Early voter turnout is on the rise this year

Early voter turnout in Monroe County is up from the last election by several hundred people. This increase might be a sign of mistrust of the voting machines by voters.\nIn the last election 2,300 people voted early. This year more than 3,000 people have already voted according to Monroe County elections supervisor Jessica White. That number does not include those who voted by mail.\n"People aren't trusting the system," White said.\nMonroe County clerk Jim Fielder does not believe the increase in early voters is due to a mistrust of the system by voters or the local Verify the Vote organization, a group that wants the Board of Elections to release the summary tapes from the voting machines on Election Day. \nVerify the Vote member Jim Allison said he doesn't know if his organization is responsible for the increase in early voters, but he is optimistic about the idea. \n"It's impossible to know," Allison said. "I'd like to think it is, but who knows."\nAllison thinks skepticism about the voting machines helps Verify the Vote's push to get people to vote early or vote absentee to allow for a paper trail.\n"The machines have been shooting themselves in the foot," Allison said.\nWhite also said early voting is a new option for many people. About four years ago, the state legislation changed the rules regarding who is allowed to vote early, Fielder said.\n"It's only been possible for everyone to vote early recently," White said.\nPrior to this rule change, early voting was restricted to people who had a reason, such as those who are handicapped or elderly. Now anyone can vote anytime in the 30 days prior to the election without having to provide a reason for doing so, Fielder said.\nEarly voting began Oct. 10 in Monroe County. Typically, early voting starts about 30 days prior to Election Day. Early voting is similar to absentee voting, except registered voters can cast their ballots in person until noon Nov. 6, the day before Election Day. Indiana is one of 23 states that offers early voting, Fielder said.\nMore changes are coming to the way people vote in Indiana. The Indiana Association of County Clerks is working with the idea of voter pods, Fielder said. Instead of having lots of different precincts, there will be one polling site for the county.\n"One location means less help will be required on Election Day to operate the polls," Fielder said.\nIn the short term, Fielder also expects more changes that will help cut down on costs. When voting precincts are redrawn next year as required by law, the number of precincts in the county will be cut from 96 to 75, Fielder said, which will cut expenses by $3,000 per precinct.