Live Election Day updates: Rural polling site sees more voters than expected

Noon: Washington Township voters come out

By 11:30 Tuesday, poll workers at The Family Life Worship Center were surprised at the number of voters that had come to cast a ballot for or against a referendum to increase taxes for the Monroe County Community School Corp.

They had seen a steady stream of voters all morning. "At one point, we had a line of six," Washington Township poll inspector Susan Adam said. "We've had a lot more than we expected."

She said some voters weren't aware the polling site was open. "Some people said they drove by and saw the sign, so they pulled in," Adam said.

By 11:30, 123 people had cast ballots there.

9 a.m.: All early voting should be counted

According to Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne, there were no voters who cast an early ballot and "subsequently passed away" before today, which means that every ballot that was cast in the municipal election will count.

Browne said that as of 9:23 a.m., 1,574 voters have reported to a polling site and cast a ballot.

6 a.m.: Changes to voting at Bloomington High School South

At 6 a.m. Tuesday, there were only two people waiting for the doors to open for voting at Bloomington High School South, according to Kurt Seiffert, inspector. That was fewer than most elections, he said, and might be because the location for voting at the school was changed to the auxiliary gym (the White gym) on the other side of the school from the previous location for voting.

Seiffert said he learned of the change last week during training. People who tried to open the doors in the former location found them locked. A sign was posted that told voters to go to door 19 or 20 but didn't explain where that was. Seiffert was making changes to ensure people could find the proper doors.

"This is a better place for us, actually," he said while sitting at a table in the gym. "The atrium presented challenges" with so many ways for people to enter and exit. "This allows us more control. Notifying voters was the problem."

Seiffert said in the gym there was enough space to use tables instead of standing booths, which is easier to set up and observe. He was concerned that the handicap access to the gym was a little far from the voting area. But the ramps to the main gym do allow access.

The atrium and cafeteria area of the school were being used for a teachers training session. Vehicles were filling the parking area usually reserved for voters by 6:45 a.m.

With five precincts voting at Bloomington South, Seiffert said the voting location is one of the county's largest.

"If it would have been a regular election, not even a presidential election, we would have had at least a dozen people when we opened the doors," Seiffert said.

Early voting shows exceptional turnout

Before the polls opened this morning at 6 a.m., 2,894 voters in Monroe County already had cast ballots in what likely will be a quiet non-presidential-year election.

Larime Wilson, a deputy clerk for voter registration, reported that 2,555 early votes had been cast by the end of this past weekend. Another 339 people took advantage of early voting before it ended at noon Monday.

There's just one contested Bloomington city council race and no county offices on the ballot. In 2019, the last time municipal elections were held and no county offices were on the ballot, there were 409 early votes cast and 1,509 total votes.

Monroe County residents — except those in Richland and Bean Blossom townships — will see one item on their ballots. It's a yes-or-no decision regarding a proposed 8-year property tax increase presented as a public education referendum for people living within the Monroe County Community School Corp. boundaries.

The county has staffed all of the polling sites in the nine townships in MCCSC's district: Benton, Bloomington, Clear Creek, Indian Creek, Perry, Polk, Salt Creek, Van Buren and Washington townships. Bloomington residents will vote on the referendum as well.

Who is on the ballot?

On this year's ballot are city offices including mayor and several city council seats and a Monroe County Community Schools Corp. referendum. The only contested race is for City Council District 3, in which voters will choose between Democratic primary winner Hopi Stosberg and Republican candidate Brett Heinisch.

Other offices appearing on the ballot are Bloomington mayor, city clerk, three at-large seats and districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 on the city council.

This year's election: Bloomington voters to pick new mayor, council Tuesday, but biggest choice will be schools

Where do I vote?

Hoosiers can find their polling place by visiting the state's voter portal at indianavoters.in.gov.

Once on the site, find your polling location by doing a search of either of your personal voter registration information or the county and precinct.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Election Day news: Rural polling site sees more voters than expected