As early voting started Tuesday at the Kosciusko County Justice Building, former U.S. Ambassador  to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture Kip Tom, Leesburg, and his mother, Marie, 93, made sure they were in line.
“We know that there’s a lot of examples where sometimes we know what can happen in our lives. We don’t know what can happen in our voting systems, so I think it’s important to go in and bank the vote. I don’t care what party you’re from, I think it’s just important to go,” Kip said.
Kip said Marie suffered an injury in March and she was able to vote still, but it took a little bit more effort to do so. He thinks it comes down to telling people you don’t know what’s going to happen on Election Day so it’s important to get out and vote early and it’s a great opportunity to make sure your vote counts.
Marie said she’s voted in every election she’s been able to, but on Election Day. She said she decided to vote early this year because at her age, one never knows - she may not be here, the weather might be bad or she might not have anyone to take her to vote.
She said she’s hoping people get out to vote because “no matter who you’re voting for, if you don’t vote, you’re voting for the other person.” It’s a travesty that people don’t vote in a free country where people can vote, she said.
Kip also said people need to make sure they’re an educated voter by knowing who they are voting for by learning the candidates’ positions.
Here are dates, times and locations for people to vote in Kosciusko County:
People can go to the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St., North Webster, on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to vote early.
Deadline to request an absentee ballot at the clerk’s office or at the Indiana Voters website is Oct. 24. Voter registration deadline was Oct. 7.
Since Kosciusko County is a vote center county, voters may cast their ballots at any of the following locations on Nov. 5:
• Amazing Grace Community Church, 202 W. Arthur St., Sidney.
• Atwood Community Center, 213 Hovey St., Atwood.
• Center Lake Pavilion, 119 E. Canal St., Warsaw.
• Christ’s Covenant Church, 2090 E. Pierceton Road, Winona Lake.
• Claypool Lion’s Building, 205 W. Calhoun St., Claypool.
• Community Life Center, 825 N. Harrison St., Warsaw.
• First Christian Church, 115 Park Ridge Drive, Warsaw.
• Heritage Park Building, 338 S. Walnut St., Etna Green.
• Ivy Tech Community College-Warsaw Campus, 2545 Silveus Crossing, Warsaw.
• Leesburg Lions Community Building, 114 W. School St., Leesburg.
• Mentone Fire Station, 201 W. Main St., Mentone.
• Pathways Church, west entrance, door 6, 2402 W. Old Road 30, Warsaw. This is a new location as the vote center was moved to here from the Moose Lodge.
• Mount Tabor Hall, 8424 N. CR 800W, Etna Green.
• North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St., North Webster.
• Pierceton Community Building, 105 W. Walnut St., Pierceton.
• Shrine Building, Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, 1400 E. Smith St., Warsaw.
• Syracuse Community Center, 1013 N. Long Drive, Syracuse.
• Town Hall Meeting Room, 604 N. Jefferson St., Silver Lake.
• Valley Springs Fellowship, 345 N. CR 175E, Warsaw.
• Wawasee Community Bible Church, 2035 E. CR 1300N, Milford.
• Winona Lake Senior Center, 1590 Park Ave., Winona Lake.