After months of campaigning, primary candidates will see if their hard work will pay off with victory Tuesday over fellow party members and a chance to win a political office in November’s general election.
The weather forecast for Tuesday shows a likelihood of rain, which could impact voter turnout. Midterm elections tend to have a lower turnout because voters don’t have to cast a ballot for president, officials said.
In the 2018 primary, the Lake County primary attracted 17.11% of registered voters while the 2014 primary drew an even more anemic 12.83%, according to data through the Lake County Election and Voter Registration Board.
Lake County Election and Voter Registration Board Director Michelle Fajman predicted the combination of rain and it being a midterm election will likely result in an 18% to 20% voter turnout this time around.
“Typically, people aren’t going to want to get out in the rain, which is a shame. It’s an important year, you’re electing congressmen and state representatives and local offices,” Fajman said.
On Monday, Fajman said all voting machines were delivered to polling locations and final changes to poll worker assignments were made.
The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Fajman said, with 198 polling locations throughout the county for 355 precincts.
Ahead of the election, here’s a look at election poll watching rules and candidates.
Poll watching
Poll watching is a part of the election process “to guarantee the integrity of the election and increase public confidence in our elections,” said Elizabeth Bennion, chancellor’s professor of political science at Indiana University South Bend.
While state law allows for poll watchers to be appointed by the state or county party chairperson, that does not mean that people can show up to the polls and claim to be poll watchers, Bennion said.
“They cannot simply show up at the poll and stay there and claim they are a self-appointed poll watcher,” Bennion said.
One poll watcher per party — Republican, Democrat and Independent — can come to a polling location, Bennion said. The Independent candidates can appoint poll watchers for federal and state offices, and they can appoint them in each precinct where the candidate is on the ballot, she said.
Only one poll watcher per party is allowed at a polling location, but poll watchers are allowed to rotate between polling locations throughout the day, Bennion said.
“They can’t gather. You can’t send 10 watchers to one precinct. Not only does that violate Indiana code, but it would be viewed as an act of intimidation,” Bennion said.
Under Indiana law, Bennion said that poll watchers can watch what is happening at the polls, but they can’t talk to voters.
Poll watchers have access to observing what happens before, during and after the voting process, Bennion said. Under Indiana code, poll watchers can enter the polling location 30 minutes before it opens and stay until the votes are counted, she said.
If a poll watcher chooses to arrive before voting begins, he or she is allowed to inspect the ballot boxes and the electronic voting system, unless the system is password protected, Bennion said.
“They really are able to be there for the entire process,” Bennion said. “They can enter and leave the polls if they need and come back without a problem, just bringing their card with them.”
If a poll watcher witnesses a problem, he or she can ask the election workers in the polling location to call the police, Bennion said. But, voters should know that fraud in elections is rare, she said.
“It is important for people to realize that voter fraud is incredibly rare, both in Indiana and across the country. Poll watching is just one way that the U.S. has always worked to ensure the integrity of elections but also to promote public confidence in the process,” Bennion said.
Local elections
Locally, incumbent Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. is running against Col. Richard Ligon, Maria Trajkovich and Anthony Williams for Lake County Sheriff. Martinez is currently facing charges for allegedly resisting law enforcement and reckless driving.
For circuit court clerk, incumbent Lorenzo Arredondo is facing Mike Brown, Andrew Sylwestrowicz, Alex Garza and Jesse Gomez.
Longtime public official Peggy Holinga-Katona, a Highland Democrat and current Treasurer, faces attorney Eduardo Fontanez in the Auditor’s race. Incumbent Auditor John Petalas is facing Josefina Magallanes in the Treasurer’s race.
In the Democratic Lake County Council District 2 race, incumbent Alfredo (Al) Menchaca will face Gary Councilman Clorius Lay, D-At large, and Cornelius Williams in the primary.
For Republicans, two county council races have challenges. In District 4, Anthony (Tony) Ferraro and Pete Lindemulder seek the nomination. In District 7, incumbent Christian Jorgensen is being challenged by Randy Niemeyer, a Cedar Lake Town Council president.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, will face Richard E. Fantin in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Rep. First District seat.
On the Republican side, seven candidates are hoping for a chance to make history in the U.S. Rep. First District seat, where no Republican has won since 1930: Jennifer-Ruth Green, Air Force Air Reserve member; Mark Leyva, a former steel mill worker an previous candidate; Martin Lucas, an attorney; Blair E. Milo, former LaPorte mayor; Nicholas Pappas, an attorney; Ben Ruiz, who has worked in sales, marketing and advertising; and Aaron Storer, a lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana.
Senate Dist. 1, which was held by former Sen. Frank Mrvan, has shifted to now extend from Highland south into Griffith, Schererville and into St. John following redistricting. Former Highland Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin won a Democratic caucus against Martin Del Rio, of Highland, Feb. 5 to replace Mrvan.
Griffin and Del Rio, a veteran and regional coordinator for the Warrior Care Transition Program, face off again in the primary. The Democratic candidate that wins the nomination will face Lake County Republican Chairman Dan Dernulc in the general election.
State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., who took over former Sen. Karen Tallian’s seat following her resignation, is seeking his party’s nomination for his first full term in District 4. In the primary, he will face Deb Chubb, the executive director of Indiana Women’s Action Movement; Todd Connor, the CEO of Veterans for Political Innovation; and Ron Meer, the former Mayor of Michigan City.
Two Republicans are seeking the nomination for the District 4 seat, Jeff Larson, a former at-large member of the Porter County Council, and Johannes Poulard.
Rep. Michael Aylesworth, R-Hebron, will face two Republican challengers in the primary, Andrew R. Boersma, the Jasper County coroner, and Pierce Fischer, for the Dist. 11 GOP nomination.
