Early in-person voting started in Lake County Tuesday and is well on the way to break records set in presidential elections since 2008, when the county started tracking data.
The county is estimating between 70,000 to 75,000 early in-person ballots to be cast in the November election, which is about 30,000 more in-person early voting ballots compared to the 2016 general election, the highest in-person early voting turn out so far, said Michelle Fajman, director of the Lake County Election and Voter Registration Board.
On Tuesday, the first day of early in-person voting, 4,406 people cast a ballot, Fajman said. As of Thursday, 12,380 people have already voted early in person, she said.
The top three voting locations within the first three days are: The Lake County Government Center with 2,186 ballots cast; the Schererville Town Hall with 1,193 ballots cast; and the St. John Township Assessor’s Office with 1,186 ballots cast, Fajman said.
By comparison, in the 2008 general election, 236 people voted early in-person on the first day the polls opened, Fajman said. In total, 24,411 ballots were cast early in person in 2008 among four early voting locations, she said.
In the 2012 general election, 1,042 people voted early in-person on the first day the polls opened, Fajman said. In total, 26,294 people voted early in-person among six early voting locations, she said.
In the 2016 general election, 1,394 people voted early in-person on the first day the polls opened, Fajman said. In total, 46,643 people voted early in-person among 11 early voting locations, she said.
The numbers for the 2020 general election so far are “very exciting,” Fajman said. With extended voting hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the polling locations open each Saturday ahead of election day will ensure the 2020 general election will see a high turnout for early in-person voting, she said.
“People are excited about this election. They are showing up and they want their vote to count,” Fajman said, adding that voters have told her waiting in long lines “is well worth it.”
Typically, voters are able to turn over their absentee mail-in ballot to an early voting location if they decide to vote in person, Fajman said. Recently, the state informed the office that voters won’t be able to turn over their absentee mail-in ballot to an early voting location, she said, unless they say the ballot was never received or was spoiled, lost or defective in some way.
But, voters can still forfeit their mail-in absentee ballot on election day to vote in person, if they choose, she said.
At the Lake County Government Center, polls are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On Tuesday and Thursday, the polls are open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the Monday before election day from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
At the 10 satellite locations, polls are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On Tuesday and Thursday, the polls are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the Monday before election day from 9 a.m. to noon.
All locations will be closed Monday for Columbus Day, according to county reports.
Early voting locations:
East Chicago Court House, 3711 Main St., East Chicago
Gary Genesis Center, 1 Genesis Plaza, Gary
Hammond Lake County Courthouse, 232 Russell St., Hammond
Hobart Police Command Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart
Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St., Lowell
Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road, Munster
Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St., Schererville
St. John Township Assessor’s Office, 9157 Wicker Ave., St. John
Wicker Park Breezeway, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd. (Ridge Road and Prairie Avenue), Highland
Winfield Town Hall, 10645 Randolph St., Winfield
