Potpourri: Early Voting Sets Midterm Record In Kosciusko County
Posted
Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com
Early voting in Kosciusko County has already shattered previous totals for midterms, according to County Clerk Ann Torpy.
“For our midterm election, it is far busier than what we’ve ever had,” Torpy said Friday after running an updated report.
As of about noon Friday – with more than a dozen voters standing in line at the Kosciusko County Justice Building – election workers had already received 4,126 ballots. Those include ballots cast in person, emailed, snail mailed and those from recipients who are categorized as confined.
The total number of absentee votes cast for the general election in 2014 – the most recent midterm election – was 1,765 ballots. In 2010, the total was 1,914 ballots.
Early voting ends at noon Monday. Voting Saturday runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Final Frenzy – Republican organizers are hoping for a strong turnout Sunday afternoon when a GOP tour bus featuring Gov. Eric Holcomb and others stops in Warsaw.
The “Right Track Results” bus tour is scheduled to arrive about 2 p.m. Sunday at GOP headquarters in downtown Warsaw (corner of Lake and Center streets).
In addition to Holcomb, others expected to appear include U.S. Senate candidate Mike Braun and three state-level incumbents – Secretary of State Connie Lawson, Auditor Tera Klutz and Treasurer Kelly Mitchell.
The weekend portion of the tour was also expected to include stops in Greenwood, Indianapolis, Whitestown, Lafayette, Lowell and Noblesville.
State Activity – While often overlooked in national campaigns, Indiana has taken on a new level of importance in the final days as high-profile political celebs crisscross the state. The list is impressive and led by President Donald Trump, who is expected to make two stops in Indiana, including one in Fort Wayne on Monday, and former president Barack Obama, who is set to campaign in Gary on Sunday.
Others visiting the state in the final days include former Vice President Joe Biden, Trump’s son Eric Trump, Sen. Corey Booker, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Vice President Mike Pence.
City hall polling place changed – If you normally vote at Warsaw City Hall, take note. The polling site has been moved to the Shrine Building at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. That’s because city council meets Monday night. The move is being done to accommodate poll workers who normally set up their election equipment after the council meets.
Hard To Dispute – Kosciusko County Democratic Party Chairman Brian Smith gives credit to Wayne Township trustee candidate Shari Benyousky for the township’s decision to cuts its levy by 30 percent in October. The move came at the same time Benyousky was questioning the status of the township’s $1.2 million reserve.
“That would not have happened if Shari wasn’t beating the drum,” Smith said. “She’s affecting policy and she’s not even elected yet.”
Benyousky faces Jeanie Stackhouse in Tuesday’s election.
