Make wishtv.com your home page

Three Marion County polling places did not open on time Tuesday

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As election officials waited on voter turnout numbers and other results, a Marion County election official said the voting process went smoothly Tuesday. But, he said, some voters did report problems early in the day.

Russell Hollis, Deputy Director of the Marion County Clerk’s Office, said at least three polling locations didn’t open at 6 a.m. as scheduled. Hollis said the polling places opened late because some workers didn’t show up on time.

“After this election, the Marion County Election Board will meet and we’ll strategize on ways to improve on things that not have gone perfectly,” Hollis said.

Beverly Love is an Indianapolis voter who said she’s voted in every election since she was 18. She said she had no problems voting exactly when she wanted to: just before 1 p.m. But she said she was disappointed to hear some polling places didn’t open on time.

“It saddens me because it’s important to get your poll station ready,” Love said.

Hollis said overall the voting process went well. He said election officials were hoping for a voter turnout of about 13%. Turnout for the 2014 primary was roughly 7%, according to Hollis.

Love’s polling station was nearly empty when she voted.

“Sometimes young people don’t know how important it is to get their vote in. They think they don’t count but it does count,” Love said.

And some people, including David Muse of Indianapolis, didn’t realize there was an election Tuesday.

“I’ve seen a few signs here and there, but I really don’t know too much about the mayor,” Muse said.

Dominique Richards said she voted in past elections, but she didn’t make it to the polls Tuesday.

“I’m not really too invested in this election,” Richards said. “I just didn’t really see anyone that caught my eye like I did in last year’s election.”

Hollis said early voting numbers caused some concerns about this year’s voter turnout. He and other election workers were still waiting on voter turnout numbers Tuesday evening.