Rain is expected in south central Indiana for most of today's midterm primary election.
While early voting in Monroe County far exceeded that of 2022's midterm primary, voter turnout is expected to be low.
In 2022, 14 percent of registered voters in Monroe County voted in the midterm primary, according to state records. That is the same as the statewide percentage.
When the Sherwood Oaks Christian Church polling location opened at 6 a.m., there was a line of about 20 people waiting.
Curtis Mitchell, inspector at the Sherwood Oaks polling location, said just over 2,000 people are registered to vote at this location. As of 10 a.m., about 500 people had cast their ballot. Mitchell expected more people to come later in the day but thought the rainy weather would play a factor in potentially lower voter turnout.
“A lot of people don't want to get out in the rain,” he said. “They may be sick already and so forth from the spring, weather changing, allergies and so forth, and this will be one more condition to make them not feel well. But we're hoping that the voters feel well today enough to come on out, even with the rain and weather being the way it is.”
Voter Josh Goodman has lived in Bloomington for 23 years and voted at Sherwood Oaks this morning. He said he wants to see improvements to the healthcare education systems, especially since he has two kids in school.
“Just valuing our teachers and paying them an affordable income and giving money to the public schools so they can do what they need to do,” Goodman said.
Steven Vigdor has lived in Bloomington for 50 years. He said he's extremely unhappy with how the current Congress has handled a flurry of issues. As a member of the Concerned Scientists at Indiana University Bloomington group, an organization that advocates for science and evidence-based decision making, he doesn’t approve of cuts to science and healthcare. He’s also a Professor Emeritus in IU’s Physics Department.
“I think that this Congress and this President have been disastrous for the economy, for people's healthcare, for supporting this disastrous war in Iran,” Vigdor said. “...I am a scientist, but I am retired, so cuts to science funding have not affected me personally, but have affected many of my colleagues.”
Given billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, Vigdor is concerned about potential further cuts to Medicare and access to rural healthcare. He said he voted for Tim Peck in the 9th District Democratic congressional primary.
“He is a working emergency room doctor,” Vigdor said. “He is very cognizant of the problems posed by Medicaid cuts, especially in South Central Indiana.”
At Jackson Creek Middle School, voter turnout was been higher than Inspector Mark Bauman expected. While no one was lined up at 6 a.m. when the polls opened, there was a steady stream of traffic later. As of 11 a.m., just under 200 people have voted at the polling site.
Carloyn Rogers Richard, 81, said she has missed voting only three or four times in her life. She’s among hundreds who cast their ballot at the Jackson Creek Middle School polling site.
“It's so important, because really, it's the one way that most of us can participate and help and voice our feelings about the direction things should be going,” she said.
Richard voted for David Henry for Monroe County Commissioner because she liked his focus on community building.
“Advancement isn't always, can we build 42 more condo communities? Advancement is so much more,” she said. “And I think sometimes there's too much focus on physical advancement and not enough on actually caring for the community.”
Seven state senate races have attracted national attention because they involve primary challenges to Republican state senators who defied President Trump and voted against midterm redistricting.
Trump vowed revenge and has endorsed opponents of the senators.
The New York Times called the elections a "test of Trump's power."
Among those races is Terre Haute's District 38, where Greg Goode faces Trump-endorsed challenger Brenda Wilson.
Another is District 41 in Columbus, where Greg Walker faces Trump-backed state Rep. Michelle Davis.
Meanwhile, four Democrats are competing to face incumbent Republican Erin Houchin in Indiana's 9th Congressional District. The field includes Tim Peck, who lost decisively to Houchin two years ago in the general election.
For the first time in 22 years, two Democrats will compete for the party’s nomination in the Statehouse District 61 primary election. Matt Pierce will defend the statehouse seat he’s held since 2002 against first-time candidate Lilliana Young.
