City offers chance to vote early

Election Day is everyday in the Clerk's Office at the Monroe County Justice Building, 301 N. College Ave., Room 202, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, now until the last day of local and national elections Nov. 2.\nAll registered campus community members can submit their votes early until Nov. 2. Voting is important to America's democratic institutions and eligible voters should make every effort to vote up to and on Election Day, said Paul Purdom, a volunteer for the Monroe County Democratic Party Headquarters.\n"Basically, you go to the Justice Building, room 202, and you fill out an application for absentee ballot," Purdom said. "They will check to see you have provided the correct information. If so, they will give you a card with a bunch of ovals on it. You go to a voting booth, fill-in the ovals of the candidates you chose and bring the card to one of the deputies. You have to sign the card in the deputy's presence."\nThe opportunity to vote early is available for any registered campus community member for any reason if the application is filled out in-person. Douglas McClellan, a bi-partisan volunteer for the Absentee Voting Office of Monroe County said registered voters wishing to vote by mail, however, are required to provide a reason for not being able to make the voting booth on Election Day.\n"One of the biggest reasons for absentee ballots is because people are going to be out of the county on Election Day," McClellan said. "Also, Election Day poll workers or other people working the election should submit an absentee ballot if they are not going to be able to make to their home precinct to vote."\nPurdom said campus community members have incentive to vote before the nationally recognized Election Day.\n"If you vote early, you make absolutely sure you get around to voting," Purdom said. "It is my impression that about one person out of twenty has some intention of voting but has to face an emergency of some kind on Election Day." \nMcClellan said most campus community members do not foresee Election Day complications in getting to the voting booth; therefore, they do not even think of submitting an absentee ballot. He said a few registered voters will not be able to vote on Election Day, however, due to sickness, work or other pressing commitments.\n"One advantage for the absentee ballot, although maybe minimal, is to avoid the long lines on Election Day," McClellan said. "Your boss may not let you off of work, which he or she does not have to do, or maybe you will be in another county. For some people, voting may be more convenient if you come to the Clerk's Office."\nAccording to the application for an absentee ballot, government Form ABS-1, campus community members electing to vote by mail must indicate their reasons for being absent on Election day from a list that includes voter disabilities, the age of 65 or older, official election duties, work schedules during the entire 12-hour voting window, and confinement due to illness or injury.\nMcClellan said all campus community members, especially those individuals caring for otherwise confined people due to illness or injury, should also consider voting early.\n"The more people who vote make a more direct democracy," McClellan said. "In turn, a more direct democracy makes democracy more effective in representing all people." \n-- Contact staff writer David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.