Voter registration spikes in Hamilton County
HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – Voter registration in Hamilton County is up 46 percent over 2012. Close to 8,000 new voters have registered since the first of the year.
It’s a big jump that can be explained by interest in the race for President.
“The interesting thing is the amount of 17 and 18-year-olds we have had register,” said Beth Sheller. “Lots. Unbelievable amounts of young kids that we have had register.”
Bailey Hildebrand is one of them. She’s home on vacation from college in Oklahoma and her mom brought her in to register.
“The last time there was a big election I was only 16,” she said, “so now that I’m 20 and care a little bit more about what’s going on, I figure it’s probably time for me to register.”
Mom is a social studies teacher at Hamilton Heights. Robin Hildebrand encourages her students to vote.
“They’re excited to vote,” she said. “Yeah, they have pretty strong opinions.”
Sue Hamilton brought in a registration form for her granddaughter, who goes to college in Kentucky.
“I made her do it while she’s home on vacation,” said Hamilton.
But it’s not just the young people who want to vote. Others are calling.
Sheller said they ask, “Am I registered? How can I find out if I’m registered?”
And a number of people 50 years old and older have registered for the first time.
Hamilton County is predominantly Republican and its the GOP half of the presidential race that is likely the biggest factor in the voter registration increase there.
By comparison, voter registration officials in Marion County say that, so far, it’s been a normal year.