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Tuesday, March 19
The Indiana Daily Student

Locals cast votes at Eastview Church of the Nazarene

Helen Kane helps a voter scan his ballot in the machine during her first-ever shift as a poll worker.

Local campaigners stood in front of a sign that read “Beyond this point no campaigning or distribution of literature” at Eastview Church of the Nazarene. 

Although the presidential race received the most attention in this year's primary election, local campaigners gathered outside to make a final impression on voters before they entered the booths. 

As voters approached the polling station, they were greeted with handshakes and political advertisements for candidates in the local elections. 

Matt Harvey stood in the rain along with two of his sons, George and Walter. Harvey was campaigning for his wife, and his sons for their mom, Holly Harvey, a democrat.

Holly is running for Judge of Monroe County Circuit Court One. It is a four-way contested race, Matt said.

Holly ran once eight years ago. A seat opened up recently after Judge Michael Hoff stepped down. Matt said being married to someone involved in a government race, even local, is exhausting. 

“Every day there’s something going on,” he said. “She’s either meeting people, going door-to-door or doing something. I was her campaign manager last time, but now I drive our kids around and watch them.” 

His sons stood at his side. The younger one, Walter, punched the signs staked into the ground. His sons engaged with voters as well, giving the same greeting to each in a nervous voice. 

“Hi,” Walter began with each approaching voter who towered over him. “My mom is Holly Harvey, and she is running for judge. I would really appreciate your vote.” 

Voters filed into the church, in a line that had been at least 10 people deep since the polling station opened at 6 a.m. 

They checked in with poll workers at long card tables and then made their first decision of the primary — whether to vote on the democrat or republican ballot. 

“What flavor would you like, red or blue?” one poll worker asked. 

One woman balked at this question, wringing her hands and swaying from side to side. 

“I have to pick just one?” She fidgeted as she tried to make her decision. “I know who I want to vote for, but I didn’t know I’d have to choose one side.” 

Armed with ballpoint pens, many voters quipped about feeling like they were in grade school as they went off to fill in the boxes on their ballots. 

Every time a first-time voter came through, a shout would issue from the poll workers. 

“Woo! We got a first time voter here!” 

The shouts were always met with hearty cheers and clapping before the quiet reclaimed the room. Voters labored over their ballots at the partitioned tables, surrounded by American flags. 

Elizabeth Johnson and Helen Kane, two first-time poll workers, manned the exit where voters swapped their ballots for the standard “I Voted today!” sticker. 

Both said they volunteered to work because they wanted to feel involved with the election. 

“This is such a raucous campaign, you just gotta get in there and do something,” Kane said. 

They exchanged congratulations and jokes with voters as they fed their ballots into a machine. 

Many voters grinned as they finalized their votes, but some seemed somber, looking unsure of themselves as they walked out the door. 

“Just slide the paper into the machine, it’s easy,” Kane told one man. “You know what to do.” 

The man shook his head as he took his sticker and headed for the door. 

“I’m not sure I know what to do at all,” he said. “Not after this election.” 

After voting for Bernie Sanders, Anthony Reed put on his sunglasses. He avoided looking at the campaigners as he strolled past. 

While Reed did vote for the presidential and local elections, he said he did not like the people standing out front asking for votes. 

“The advertisements were just white noise,” he said. “I’ve done my research at home.” 

When another man exited the church, he proudly placed the sticker on his chest with a thud and lifted his head high. 

Dan and Reba Kirk left together after voting for Donald Trump. While they are not too fond of Trump’s attitude, Reba said, they like where he came from. 

They said the primary is the only chance they have to make a difference. 

“We can’t bitch if we don’t vote,” Dan said. 

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