Early voting underway in Bartholomew County

Early voting is underway in the Bartholomew County Courthouse voter registration office in downtown Columbus.

Early voting runs weekday from 8 to 5 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 2nd, with a half day of voting until noon on Monday, Nov. 5th at the office. The voter registration office will add Saturday hours on Oct. 27th and Nov 3rd, from 8 to 3 p.m.

Satellite early voting locations will open Monday through Saturdays, Oct. 29th through Nov. 3rd at three Columbus locations: Donner Center on 22nd Street, Flintwood Wesleyan Church on 25th Street and German American Bank on Jonathan Moore Pike. Those locations will be open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 to 3 p.m.

Voters in northeastern Bartholomew County are looking at several contested races on their ballots including:

There are four candidates running for the two at-large seats on the Hope Town Council. Incumbent Republican Clyde Compton and incumbent Democrat Jerry Bragg are running against Republican Lou K. and Democrat Chelsea Warriner. Republican County Councilman Chris Ogle opted not to seek re-election to the District 1 seat on the council, which includes northeastern Bartholomew County. Republican Scott Bonnell will face Democrat Hanna Omar in November for that seat.

Only two candidates are running for the three open seats on the Hawcreek Township advisory board. Those are Democrats Georgia C. McCarty and Kim A. Miller. Republican Hawcreek Township Trustee Ron Hatton is unopposed for re-election.

Flat Rock Township Trustee Lisa Moore is also unopposed. She is a Republican. Three Republicans will run for the three seats on the Township Advisory Board, Christi Bruer, Charlie DeWeese and Tom R. Finke.

There are five candidates running for the three seats on the Clifford Town Board. Those include Republicans Bonnie "BJ" Everroad and Bob Moore, and Democrats Danny James, Ed Stone and Carroll D. Thompson.

There are three seats up for election on the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Board, all unopposed. Incumbent Dr. John Harker is running for the Hawcreek District seat and current board President Pat Walters is running unopposed for the at-large seat. Chad Miller is running for the Flatrock District seat. 

All of the countywide races are unopposed on the November ballot. They will all be filled by Republicans. Those include:

• Superior Court I Judge Jim Worton
• Prosecutor Bill Nash
• Clerk Jay Phelps
• Auditor Pia O'Connor
• Recorder Tami Hines
• Treasurer Barb Hackman
• Sheriff Matt Myers
• Assessor Ginny Whipple
• County Commissioner Carl H. Lienhoop.

In the statehouse, Republican State Rep. Sean Eberhart is running unopposed for the Shelbyville-centered District 57 seat that includes northeastern Bartholomew County. Republican State Sen. Chip Perfect is also unopposed for the senate District 43 seat which covers eastern Bartholomew County.