This is the WFHB Local News for Tuesday, November 7th, 2023.
Today marks Election Day in Monroe County. WFHB News interviewed voters, poll workers and members of the Monroe County Election Board in an Election Day special. More in today’s feature report.
Also coming up in the next half hour, Lil Bub’s Lil Show – a co-production between Lil Bub’s Big Fund and WFHB.
2023 Election Day Special in Monroe County
Today is Election Day in Monroe County.
This year’s ballot includes the mayor’s race and a referendum for the Monroe County Community School Corporation. If you live within the district boundaries, you can vote on the M-C-C-S-C referendum – an 8.5 cent property tax rate increase to fund early childhood education programs. The District 3 city council seat is the only contested race for the off-year election. Republican Brett Heinisch is running against Democrat Hopi Stosberg for the District 3 city council spot.
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At approximately 12:40 p.m., only one voter is at the polling location of the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship on Patterson Drive.
WFHB News spoke with poll workers who said the turnout has been slow so far. Dakota Hall, a local resident originally from Ellettsville, signed up to work the polls at the Academy. Hall provided the motivation behind becoming a poll worker and outlined some of the key responsibilities.
Hall described the training process of becoming a poll worker — saying he spent an hour at the Monroe County Clerk’s office for preparation.
Hall explained how poll workers and the county attempt to make the process efficient and accessible to all voters.
He outlined what voters can do to make the voting process smoother and faster at polling places.
Hall said he appreciates when voters are cordial and acknowledge the work he does as a poll worker.
Hall explained that poll workers are always needed and he encouraged residents to consider it in future elections.
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At 2 p.m., at the Indiana Memorial Union, several potential voters showed up only to find out they were at the wrong polling location. Poll workers said this was common throughout the day.
WFHB Correspondent Annika Harshbarger spoke with poll workers Allie Smith, Sandy Sluss, Norine Bunch and Jon Vickers about how the voting process has played out on Election Day. Harshbarger first asked what motivated each of them to become a poll worker.
Each of the poll workers discussed the key responsibilities of what they do on Election Day — each playing a role in making the polling place operational.
The panel of poll workers gave rough approximations on how many people had voted so far at the IMU and predicted how many people would show up by the end of the day. Overall, they described the turnout as relatively low.
Most people who have their polling place at the IMU are college students. The poll workers provided explanations as to why student engagement in local elections can be slow.
They went on to describe the training process in order to become a poll worker and how it prepared them for the role.
The poll workers described the voting process from when a voter enters to when they leave.
Harshbarger then asked what challenges poll workers face on Election Day.
Poll workers went around and shared memorable experiences from their time spent as a poll worker — both positive and negative.
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WFHB Correspondent Annika Harshbarger spoke with a voter at the Binford Elementary School Polling location. She said she always makes a point to vote.
This voter said she uses a website to learn more about the candidates on her ballot.
She shared some advice for first time voters.
