Hoosiers are heading to the polls today to cast their ballots in Indiana’s 2024 general election, and IndyStar will keep you updated here throughout the day.
Voters across the state will make key decisions in races from President of the United States down to local school boards.
One of the top races to watch today is the Indiana governor’s race, where voters will choose who will replace term-limited Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun faces Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater in what has become an increasingly competitive race in the last month.
Other statewide elections include the race for Attorney General, U.S. Senate, U.S. House seats and Statehouse seats.
Follow along with IndyStar reporters as we share updates from the polls, results and election watch parties around the state.
Election Day in Indiana:Here are the races to watch
As you wait for results to come in on Election Night this Tuesday, tune in here to watch IndyStar’s live show discussing Indiana’s most significant races.
IndyStar Election Night Live will stream on indystar.com at 6 p.m., just after most of Indiana’s polls close. We’ll wrap up before the first results start coming in around 7 p.m.
IndyStar government and politics editor Kaitlin Lange will be our host for two panels. The first features IndyStar’s own Statehouse reporters, Kayla Dwyer and Brittany Carloni, as well as senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo. Then she’ll bring on opinion editor James Briggs and two guest panelists: Jocelyn Vare, the Hamilton County Democratic Party chair and a former Fishers City Council member, and Chris Mitchem, president and co-founder of VanceMitchem Public Affairs who is a frequent commentator on Indiana Week in Review.
Watch here:Reporters and pundits discuss Indiana’s biggest races
Broad Ripple election inspector says lines were busy at open, expects them to be busy again as day wraps
Broad Ripple Park Family Center was getting steady traffic throughout the day, garnering more than 1,500 voters by 2 p.m. The election inspector, Tammy Sajdyk, said there were 100 people lined up there at 6 a.m. and they were expecting another busy period once school gets out for the day. Sajdyk said the mood was jovial and everything was going smoothly.
One voter, Marisa Volino, 29, said she come out for every election. She typically votes early but was pleasantly surprised by the Election Day voting experience, saying “I’m super glad it was so easy.” She said she reliably votes Democrat and her top issues were “abortion and democracy.”
Another voter, John Benefiel, who said he is in his late 50s, voted for Trump and other Republicans including Mike Braun. He said his top issue was lowering property taxes.
“Especially here in Broad Ripple,” he said, where property values are raising. He said he’s paying $100 per month more in taxes.
“We need to get them cut,” he said.
— Hayleigh Colombo
Indy voter: ‘(Trump) can do whatever he wants. But politics? No.’
Some voters were just motivated to keep Trump out of the White House again. Henry Williams, 67, retired, said Trump is not qualified to hold the office of president again.
“He’s a racist and he doesn’t belong in politics,” Williams said. “Businessman? Fine. He can do whatever he wants. But politics? No.”
Shawna Paschall, 53, a housing real estate investor, said she is concerned about property taxes after just purchasing a new home. She thinks Democrats can better address that issue. Paschall voted a straight Democrat ticket, voting for Kamala Harris for president and taking interest in several judges and IPS school board candidates.
“I really like Deandre ‘Dee’ Thompson,” she said. “I think she’s great for the community and has a like commonality with the history of the students who attend IPS.”
She no longer her children in IPS, but she feels like the schools don’t get the support they desire. She wants children with special needs to have more resources and a revamped school lunch program.
“I do believe they can improve on the food — not offering so much processed foods but fruits and vegetables,” she said.
— Alexandria Burris
Abortion on the minds of some Beech Grove voters
The lines zigged and zagged Tuesday inside the gymnasium at Beech Grove Middle School, 1248 Buffalo St., where Hoosiers on the southeast side of Indianapolis waited to cast their ballots on Election Day. Occasionally, punctuating the hum of murmured conversation and the shuffling of feet, election officials drew attention to those who were voting for the very first time.
“We’ve got another first time voter!” one official shouted, drawing polite applause from the crowd.
From start to finish Tuesday, voting in Beech Grove took roughly 35 minutes between noon and 1 p.m. Exiting the polling station around that time were David and Raevena Davis, lifelong Democrats who said the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022 was still fresh on their minds as they entered the voting booth.
“The Dobbs decision brought us out,” said David Davis, 57, of Beech Grove. “We just knew it was important to come out here and cast our vote.”
“Indiana was one of the first to ban abortion after the (Dobbs) decision, and that kind of hurt my feelings, because I just couldn’t understand how we made it back here,” Raevena Davis said. “We got to get past this and get our rights back.”
— John Tufts
Downtown Indy voter thinks Trump’s candidacy could harm down-ballot Republicans
For Stephen Farris, 50, the presidential election was top of mind after voting at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site Tuesday afternoon.
“There’s a stark difference between the two candidates,” Farris said. “There’s the old way of thinking and the new, innovative ways of thinking. I really felt I wanted to support Harris and Walz so we are moving forward and not backwards.”
In the past Farris has voted for some moderate Republicans, but in this election he voted for all Democrats, including for governor and attorney general of Indiana.
“All of the Democratic candidates look more appealing with Trump at the top of the Republican ticket,” he said. “This time I didn’t want anything to do with Trump and I think a lot of Republicans down the ballot are going to suffer in this election because of him.”
— Jake Allen
Voters at Brookside Family Center say local education among biggest issues on their ballot
Tatyana Roundtree, 37, said that the Indianapolis Public Schools race was the race she was most concerned with when she voted on Tuesday.
She voted for Hasaan Rashid for IPS District 2 because she had met him at an in person event at her local library branch and liked that one of his priorities was centered around improving literacy. Since Roundtree has a current third grader in an IPS school, she is worried about how the new third grade hold-back law will affect her kids if they don’t pass the IREAD test this year.
“I don’t think that’s fair because kids learn in different ways and that puts a lot of pressure on them,” Roundtree said. “And talking with [Rashid] I feel like they really listened to that.”
First time voter Luzmy Kader, 19, said that education was the topic that was of most concern to her and also she voted for Hasaan Rashid for the District 2 race.
She said she had received some mailers from him and liked the plan he had laid out for the IPS district.
She is a recent graduate of Arsenal Tech High School and while she said it is a good school she doesn’t think their is enough focus on preparing students for a successful post-graduate life.
“[Arsenal Tech] is just concerned about sending you off,” Kaden said. “If you graduated then you’re graduated.”
— Caroline Beck
Concerns about U.S. presence in Middle East prompt Green Party vote: ‘It’s time to do something’
Only a handful of voters stood in line around 2 p.m. at Northview Church in Carmel in the shortest lines of the day. Despite nearly 90-minute waits earlier in the day, voters were in and at the ballot box in less than 10 minutes.
Yusuf Ibrahim, 25, voted for the first time at Northview because it’s a “critical time” for the country, he said.
Ibrahim, who moved to Indiana three months ago, said he leans liberal but the Democratic platform on the Israel-Hamas conflict led him to cast a vote for the Green Party ticket in the presidential race.
“For me personally, it’s about the Middle East. We’ve been silent for awhile and it’s time to do something,” Ibrahim said.
— Alysa Guffey
Lines shorten at a few Carmel and Fishers locations
Lines began disappearing in the early afternoon and voters were in and out of their voting precincts in a matter of minutes in a few Carmel and Fishers locations.
Cori Marsh, 40, voted at the Historic Ambassador House in Fishers. She said women’s issues were the most important to her. Marsh said she’s typically an independent voter but this year went all in on blue.
Janet Collins, 65, is newer to the area and said she only votes in races she has been able to research, so she’s more focused on the presidential and gubernatorial races. Collins said she’s a “Never Trumper,” and it doesn’t matter who is running against him. She was a little more torn over who she’d be voting for in the governor’s race.
“I like to support women, but Braun’s a good guy,” Collins said. “There are two good candidates running for office.”
Jennifer Jeray said she votes in every election and wants to lead by example for her daughter. Even if some of the races don’t go the way she wants, Jeray said local races are where the votes truly matter. While she said she has party leanings, she respects people from either party.
— Karl Schneider
Texts tell voters their voting records are public
Hours before Election Day, Indiana voters began receiving text messages claiming that people’s voting records were public and that their friends and family will be able to see who they voted for in this year’s election.
“Voting records are public — your friends, neighbors, and family will know if you stood with Trump when it mattered most,” the text reads in part.
While anyone can see whether someone voted, an individual’s general election voting history is kept confidential by the state, according to the United States’ Election Assistance Commission.
Here’s the truth about whether voter records are public and what information is available on the statewide registration list.
— Noe Padilla
Middle-class tax relief top of mind for MLK Center voter
Alberto Montero, a 23-year-old who works on the MLK Center’s video production team, voted for the first time there Tuesday.He decided not to vote a straight Democratic ticket, opting instead to study as many candidates on his ballot as possible.He voted for current Vice President Kamala Harris and McCormick.
“I knew that voting for KH was just important on my end as a working man, just seeing the policies that she’s providing and offering to Americans, it … fit with my current life,” he said.For Montero, that means a tax relief for the middle class — something Harris has been promising.“I’m not a bias person. I know there’s a lot in the news about both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. I really just wanted to pick the one that best stood out to me and the people that I love.”
— Alexandria Burris
Benjamin Harrison home sees ‘tremendous’ voter turnout
The voter turnout record at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site will likely be broken Tuesday, said Charles Hyde, CEO and president of the site.
“We’ve had tremendous turnout,” Hyde said. “The strongest turnout that I’ve seen since we became a polling site back in 2015.”
The site, just north of downtown, set its voter turnout record during the 2016 general election with 805 voters. By about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, the polling location had already seen around 650 voters, Hyde said.
Voters began lining up outside just before 5 a.m., about an hour before the location opened. Although the location has been busy, voters have only had to wait about 30 to 40 minutes at most to cast their ballots.
“This group of poll workers is just phenomenal,” Hyde said. “They’ve been doing a great job just keeping on top of the line. It’s been a great voter experience for everybody.”
In addition to stickers for regular voters, poll workers handed out special “future voter” stickers to children.
— Jake Allen
Some Carmel locations see longer wait times
The Ritz Charles had about a 30-minute wait, and election workers told an IndyStar reporter that was the shortest the line had been Tuesday.
Voters at Hope Church found themselves waiting more than an hour late Tuesday morning to cast their votes at only a handful of voting booths. In the late morning at the Meeting House in the Village of West Clay, voters waited more than an hour to cast their ballots as well.
— IndyStar reports
‘If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain’
Bruce Bowman, 65, and his wife, Alison Bowman, 60, made their way from their home in Wayne Township to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site to vote Tuesday afternoon.
“If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain,” Alison Bowman said.
Her husband added that growing up, his father emphasized the importance of participating in elections. The couple said they are lifelong Republicans and voted for all Republicans in this election, but wished it was easier to get more information on candidates in the nonpartisan school board races.
Bruce Bowman had another thought in mind after casting his ballot, too.
“It would be nice if people didn’t view political candidates as their personal god come to earth because they’re just people and most of them fail miserably,” Bruce Bowman said.
— Jake Allen
Indiana Voter Guide:Eight candidates are running for IPS School Board
Charter schools and women’s health front of mind for eastside voter
Ashley Meagher, 43, said she voted for current Vice President Kamala Harris and McCormick on Tuesday at the Boner Fitness and Learning Center at Chase Legacy Building. But she said she felt dejected because she knows her vote won’t go a long way living in a Republican-dominated state like Indiana.
Meagher, a trauma surgeon, is paying particular attention to the attorney general’s race. She said she might consider leaving the state due to Attorney General Todd Rokita’s legal battles against Indiana University Health doctor Caitlin Bernard.
“To be a healthcare provider in this atmosphere is just scary right now,” Meagher said. “I do emergency surgeries, and the idea of what women may have to go through to take control of their lives is very scary right now.”
Meager, who doesn’t have children, also said she voted for Indianapolis Public Schools board candidates like Gayle Cosby and Carrie Harris because she is opposed to charter schools.
“I grew up in public schools, and if you take money out (of) them and deregulate them, you make education for everyone worse,” Meagher said.
— Caroline Beck
More than 52,000 Hamilton County voters cast ballots on Tuesday so far
By 1 p.m. Tuesday, 52,712 voters had cast ballots on Election Day in Hamilton County, according to Beth Sheller, the county’s election administrator.
Those who voted early numbered 98,086, and an additional about 20,100 voted by absentee ballot, she wrote in an email to IndyStar. The county has 286,009 registered voters.
— Domenica Bongiovanni
Voters highlight Carmel school board races
Gordon Goodwin votes every year, and this November, the Carmel school board races are top of mind at the ballot box.
“At a lower level, I care about what’s going on and the school board races are important, so we voted for (Jon) Shapiro and (Kris) Wheeler,” Goodwin said.
The 74-year-old Carmel resident declined to share whom he voted for in the presidential race but said he voted for “the preservation of our democracy.”
Voters at Hope Church in Carmel waited more than an hour late Tuesday morning to cast their votes at only a handful of voting booths. Inside, friendly election workers and free coffee kept spirits high, voters said.
Clare Parker, 30, said she came out to vote for abortion, her most important issue, as well as “for people who actually trust and believe in our democracy.”
Parker, who voted for the Harris-Walz ticket, said she’s generally a blue voter but researches local partisan races instead of voting straight ticket.
For the school board races, which have become increasingly political and contentious in recent years, she said “anyone not endorsed by Moms for Liberty” — a conservative parent organization — is a good choice.
As a special education private school teacher, 38-year-old Sally Doehrman said it was important for her to vote for candidates who “want to keep things fair in schools” and support the separation of church and state.
Doehrman said she votes Democrat about 80% of the time, and even though she had slight reservations about Harris’ policies on the Middle East, she voted blue in the presidential election.
“It wasn’t the easiest vote this year, because I’m Jewish, so things have been harder with Israel,” Doehrman said. “But I am hopeful that Kamala will make good choices for Israel.”
— Alysa Guffey
Long early morning lines mean short lunch hour wait times on east side
Enough voters must have feared a lunch time rush that there wasn’t much of one at all at Irvington Presbyterian Church.
Nothing like the early-morning lines that wrapped around the church, poll workers remarked while in line, taking advantage of the unexpected lull. By 12:30 p.m., the vote count was around 1,000.
The presidential election felt top of mind for most voters there. Jessica Pettigrew, 42, considered her vote for Harris as a vote against fascism, with an expletive for emphasis. Tivon Adams, 44, felt Harris represents a more diverse vision for America that would reflect better on the world stage.
Charlotte Hill, 32, was one of those unicorn voters who felt undecided up until the last moment. She said she almost left the presidential contest blank, but then went back and made a split second decision — but declined to share the outcome.
“It feels like such a controversial decision to make,” she said. “Even though no one knows who you vote for, you do.”
But voters definitely care about Indiana’s governor race, too. Adams said he didn’t like the legislation that Republicans passed last year targeting kids who use different pronouns, so he hopes a vote for McCormick represents change, as well as restoring some balance to who controls government in Indiana.
The governor’s race was the most important race to Megan McNeal, 44, partly because she said she’s keenly interested in seeing a woman become governor of Indiana. And because she dislikes Mike Braun’s politics.
One unifier: Everyone is tired of the rhetoric and the antics of election season.
“I think we’re all just a little tired, anxious about seeing the results,” McNeal said. “And I’ll be glad when tomorrow dawns.”
— Kayla Dwyer
About 111,000 Marion County voters cast ballots on Tuesday by noon
By noon Tuesday, about 111,000 voters had cast ballots on Election Day in Marion County, according to Dan Goldblatt, director of policy and communication for the Marion County Clerk’s Office.
About 133,000 voted early in person, which is part of a total of 170,000 early ballots when adding in those cast absentee by mail, military overseas and traveling board, he said.
That means about 44% of the county’s 642,000 registered voters have voted, according to Goldblatt.
— Domenica Bongiovanni
Irvington election clerks keep order at Pleasant Run Golf Course
Some voters who waited in line at Pleasant Run Golf Course on Tuesday morning were rankled by a man playing anti-Joe Biden music from his phone as he waited for his turn at the ballot box.
Election clerks asked him to turn down the volume after others complained. Officials again approached him when he came within 50 feet of the voting booths and asked him to remove his “Make America Great Again” hat. The man initially protested, saying that he was exercising his rights as an American, but complied once informed that Indiana law prohibits campaign materials within 50 feet of a voting location.
Voters have the right to “not be hassled,” said election clerk Jim Nixon, a Republican. He’s been working the polls since 2000, and he said that voters are almost always civil and cooperative. Fellow election clerk Cynthia Williams, a Democrat, agreed.
While the two clerks were being interviewed by IndyStar, a woman approached the pair and asked if an elderly woman with disabilities could be moved to the front of the line.
Williams and Nixon both said that because Marion County voters can choose any polling place, the city should provide more information about accessibility features for people with disabilities.
“Democracy doesn’t work unless people have the ability to vote,” Williams said.
— Ryan Murphy
Voters at a West Clay location wait in long midday line
At the Meeting House in the Village of West Clay in Carmel, voters waited more than an hour to vote in the late morning.
Brian David, 56, who had just joined the end of the long line, said everything is important this election season, including the economy, environment, global politics and school board issues. David said he wants to see people elected to the school board not banning books. He said he thinks things are more divided than ever and this is the first year since 1986 that he’s voting for a straight ticket.
Stew Baxter, 68, said he typically votes a straight ticket, though he wouldn’t say which way. He said this year’s election is going to be very close, but whoever the winners are won’t disturb his peace.
“I trust in the system and will be supportive of whoever is elected,” Baxter said.
Voting is a balancing act for Baxter, who said as a Catholic the right to life is important to him, but so is service to the poor. Baxter had been waiting for 40 minutes already and said he figured he had another 30 minutes or so to go.
Benjamin Nti, 45, said he typically votes a mixed ticket, taking time to look at each candidate. He said if Republicans had put up moderate candidates, it would have been a landslide, but the polarized environment makes it a bit more difficult.
— Karl Schneider
Bills, gun control and reproductive rights on Garfield Park voters’ minds
Together for 25 years, Bobbi Marsh, 71, and Duane Irwin, 62, cast votes for former President Donald Trump at the Garfield Park Burrello Family Center.
“He fixed us last time. He’s going to fix us again,” Marsh said. “He does everything the way it should be done.”
They voted a straight-party Republican ticket, putting their support behind Braun for governor. Marsh said she’d like to see Braun lower crime and help Hoosiers with their grocery bills.
“We don’t eat a lot of meat. We do, but you can’t afford an $18 package of whatever,” said Marsh, a homemaker.
“I don’t remember the last time we’ve had steak,” added Irwin, who’s retired.
When former Independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. told his supporters to vote for Trump, realtor John Wynston, 58, listened. Besides, of the current candidates on the ballot, Wynston said he views Trump as the more preferable candidate.
“Trump is not perfect. I just see him as being more of a realistic person,” Wynston said.
“Harris, she’s a San Francisco prosecutor and Democratic politician. Tim Walz (governs the) most liberal state in the Midwest,” Wynston said. “I think they miss the mark on the general bulk of the bell curve of attitudes in this country.”
But Abigail Kazmierski, a 23-year-old paralegal, felt differently. She voted for current Vice President Kamala Harris for president and McCormick for governor. She said she didn’t cast a straight party ticket.
“I just support how (Harris) is as a person and more of her policies,” she said, adding the issues important to her are gun control and reproductive rights.
— Alexandria Burris
‘The most important voting time of my life’
William Patterson, 78, left the Republican Party after the Richard Nixon administration. Patterson said that at that time, he felt the party was being taken over by the extreme right. On Tuesday at the Garfield Park Burrello Family Center, Patterson voted for current Vice President Kamala Harris, Tim Waltz and the Democratic Party.
“I think this is the most important voting time of my life,” said Patterson, a retired high school teacher who described Harris as sensible.
He feels this election is about democracy.
“If we don’t get it right, we will lose many, many of our taken-for-granted privileges and powers,” he said.
Patterson wants to put the direction of Indiana in the hands of McCormick rather than Braun and his running mate Micah Beckwith.
“I don’t think Mr. Braun would be terrible, but I do think his running mate for lieutenant governor is an extreme — so far that I could never vote for him,” Patterson said.
When asked if he would have voted for Braun if Beckwith was not his running mate, Patterson said no because the Republican Party is too far right to him.
“I don’t think Mr. Braun is extreme, or he doesn’t want to be, but he still has to go along with the party line, which right now is not good, especially on abortion. I am very pro-abortion and women’s rights.”
— Alexandria Burris
Garfield Park voter sees a busier center
Dion Hazelbaker, 36, usually votes at the Garfield Park Burrello Family Center. He lives in the neighborhood and the center is close to his home. It usually takes him about 5 minutes to vote, but on Tuesday, he was in and out in 20 minutes or so.
“It’s so much busier than usual and I’m really grateful for that, for coming over here and being like, ‘Oh cool, people are actually coming out to vote,” said Hazelbaker, a freelance video editor.
He said he voted for current Vice President Kamala Harris on a straight Democrat ticket.
“I hope we don’t live in another Trump world. It’s just insane to think what this year feels like versus what 2016 felt like. I’ve always been a very progressive person, and Kamala is the best choice we have right now. I want her to be successful,” Hazelbaker said.
“I wish she had more of a spotlight on her these past four years so that she could be more well received with her ideas and such, but she needs support.”
— Alexandria Burris
Fishers voters say education and hard-working candidates are key
Toby Holsman, 48, said he comes out to vote in every election. The school board elections are an important race, he said, because there has been a highly organized and politicized slate of candidates that make it difficult for trans and LGBTQ+ people. Holsman, who is voting a straight ticket, said the group is neglecting marginalized individuals.
“The degree to which national organizations are pushing candidates (for school boards) is a total corruption of what local elections should be about,” said Holsman, who voted at Prairie View Christian Church in Fishers.
Taylor Morris, 32, said the state of the country brought her out to vote today. She said she likes to vote for candidates who work hard for the country and Indiana.
“Not Kamala,” she said.
Morris said she is not a straight-ticket voter and leans more right on most issues except for when it comes to women’s rights. She said she is still going back and forth on whom to vote for in the governor’s race. She said she really likes the Democratic candidate McCormick but will probably vote for Braun to keep the state red.
Jeremiah Johnson, 33, said the country is torn apart and needs to be fixed. Johnson said he’s a conservative libertarian and not a Democrat, but he said that former President Donald Trump isn’t going to be the one to fix the country.
“He failed already,” Johnson said.
— Karl Schneider
Line lengths differ Tuesday morning in Marion and Hamilton counties
The line voters waited in Tuesday morning depended on the location and when they arrived. About 9 a.m. at the Garfield Park Burrello Family Center, the inspector said 64 people were in a line that stretched out the door when the polls opened at 6 a.m. Likewise, St. George Orthodox Christian Church in Fishers wrapped along the front of the building 20 minutes before the doors opened at 6 a.m.
About 9:30 a.m., voters at Allisonville Christian Church were waiting about 15 minutes. At St. Luke’s Methodist Church on the north side, people were waiting about 30 minutes early in the morning.
And the mid-morning line at Prairie View Christian Church in Fishers was about 30 minutes long as people wrapped around the front of the building.
Check in on voting lines:How to check wait times at the polls at Indianapolis voting centers on Election Day
What Delphi jurors were told to do about Election Day
The trial of Richard Allen continues on Election Day while other people line up to cast ballots across the country. But what does that mean for the panel of 12 jurors, who are under stiff sequestering orders?
According to court officials, jurors were told to cast their vote before arriving for duty Oct. 18 at the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi.
It’s unclear how many of the 16 people selected from Allen County — 12 jurors and four alternates — could vote before being sequestered in a hotel roughly two hours away in Delphi.
The trial could continue through Nov. 15. Allen, 52, is accused of killing two teens who went missing Feb. 13, 2017, and were found dead the next day. He was arrested in 2022 and faces two counts of murder and two counts of murder while kidnapping in the deaths of Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German.
Follow live trial coverage here.
Text to Carmel voters blames illegal immigration for burglaries
A text sent to Carmel residents claimed that more than half of burglaries in the city were committed by South African theft gangs, according to a post on X from Adam Wren, a Politico national politics correspondent who lives in Carmel.
The Biden-Harris administration’s policies have failed, the text claimed, and it encouraged voters to select Republican candidates for protection.
“Republicans feel the city — where Mike Pence lives — is slipping away,” Wren wrote in his X post.
Procrastinator’s guide to Election Day:How to vote and what races are on the ballot
Indiana absent from attorneys general statement calling for peace after election
Indiana was notably absent from a statement on behalf of participating attorneys general from 51 states and territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, that called for peaceful Election Day across the nation. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, is seeking re-election and facing opposition from Democrat Destiny Wells.
The National Association of Attorneys General released the statement Tuesday on behalf of a bipartisan coalition led by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Oregon Attorney General and NAAG President Ellen Rosenblum, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach.
“Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s election, we expect that Americans will respond peacefully and we condemn any acts of violence related to the results,” the statement says. “A peaceful transfer of power is the highest testament to the rule of law, a tradition that stands at the heart of our nation’s stability. As attorneys general, we affirm our commitment to protect our communities and uphold the democratic principles we serve.
The coalition called on every American to vote and respect the integrity of the democratic process.
“Let us come together after this election not divided by outcomes but united in our shared commitment to the rule of law and safety of all Americans. Violence has no place in the democratic process; we will exercise our authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it.”
— Alexandria Burris
Harris’ advocacy and McCormick’s education policies sway some northside voters
Laura Haneline said she supports the current vice president because “she’s advocating for women, she’s advocating for the middle class, and she’s advocating for people who can’t advocate for themselves.”
Education, along with the economy, was top of mind for Willice Doyle as he cast his vote at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, he said. He researched what each candidate would do to improve education for all and opted for Harris and gubernatorial candidate McCormick, who previously served as the Indiana schools superintendent.
“I feel that a more educated population is better for us,” he said.
Kevin Hampton stopped by to vote on his way home after getting off work at Carrier. Fields, who voted the straight Democratic ticket, said he has felt his candidate will win since Harris replaced Biden on the ballot.
Hampton said he would welcome a historic election that puts the first-ever woman in the White House.
“Might as well,” he said. “We’ve had everyone else.”
— Shari Rudavsky
‘I just pray … that we will be in peace and not divided’
Tony Harbin usually votes first thing in the morning on his way to work at Allison Transmission. He said Tuesday’s crowd at the polls was one of the largest he has seen on Election Day.
His choice for president?
“Mr. Trump,” he said. “I think he believes in America and supports the veterans and the troops.”
Tuesday also marked the first time that Aaron Schultz has voted in Indiana. The pastor at Advent Lutheran Church in Zionsville, who recently moved here from Alexandria, Va., said he was pleasantly surprised by the experience at St. Luke’s Methodist Church.
“This was a lot smoother than other places I’ve been,” he said, “the speed and just the warm faces. People are helpful.”
The self-described conservative said he was also intrigued to see the ballot measures about retention of judges. And, he said, while he hoped his candidate would win, he has another wish.
“I just pray that everything will be, despite the outcome, that we will be in peace and not divided,” said Schultz, who lives in Washington Township.
— Shari Rudavsky
‘Grateful I have the opportunity to vote’
First-time voter James Paul, 18, headed to St. Luke’s Methodist Church before sunrise to cast his first-ever ballot. Although the North Central High School senior had an e-learning day, he wanted to vote first thing.
Paul declined to say for whom he had voted but did share that the economy was the deciding issue for him because he wants to ensure that a strong economy greets him after he graduates from college in four years.
“I’m grateful I have the opportunity to vote,” he said, adding that many of his friends are still too young.
Later in the day, Paul planned to head off to an internship but first, he and his father planned to find a nearby restaurant and celebrate that first vote with breakfast.
— Shari Rudavsky
Harris’ candidacy tells girls ‘Hey, I can do this’
Jewel Hall, 33, a single mom who works at a gym, said she voted mainly Democrat in this election. She cast her vote at the City-County Building for current Vice President Kamala Harris in what could be a historic election.
“If she wins, I’m happy. If she doesn’t, I’m still happy. The fact that it’s an attempt gives other girls who look like me or who look like her the drive that, ‘Hey, I can do this or I can shoot for something higher’,” she said.
— Alexandria Burris
A Libertarian vote for Trump and Rainwater
Oscar Gonzales, 51, said he is a Libertarian who voted for Trump for president. Early Tuesday morning at the City-County Building, his focus was on the presidential race.
“I think the media is lying about him. He did a good job the first term,” said Gonzales, who blamed Democrats for the Russia-Ukrainian war. “I don’t think (current Vice President) Kamala Harris convinced me.”
Gonzales said he trusts Trump to end wars that are currently raging around the world and to boost the economy.
As for the governor’s race, Gonzales, who works in finance, picked Donald Rainwater over Braun and McCormick.
— Alexandria Burris
Education issues weigh on voters’ minds
Gage Sowers, 36, teaches at a charter school in downtown Indianapolis and said McCormick came out strong with her advocacy for teachers, so he will vote for her.
“McCormick gives teachers and students a voice and she has our best interests in mind,” said Sowers, who voted at the Roy G. Holland Memorial Park Building.
Abby Fortier, 21, is voting for the first time and plans to vote for all Democrats. Fortier works at a school and said education is a huge issue.
“We need to keep as many subjects in school, and funding is also important,” Fortier said.
Farah Sharif, 38, isn’t voting a straight ticket. She said she is voting for McCormick based on her economic policies, which are important to her. Sharif said she also plans to vote for Jon Shapiro in the school board race because she finds his policies to be good when it comes to the school system.
Jeff McAllister, 57, was still making his mind up when he was waiting in line. McAllister said he did decide to vote for McCormick and isn’t big on abortion prohibitions. While freedom of choice is important to McAllister, he said the conservative politicians have been doing a good job of bringing business to Indiana.
— Karl Schneider
Trump’s stances on inflation and immigration convince first-time voter
As the sun started to rise, voters at the Roy G. Holland Memorial Park Building in Fishers stood waiting for their chance to cast a ballot. The relatively short line moved a bit slowly, and at one point a poll worker came out to tell voters that anyone who is in the Delaware 3 precinct is in the wrong location.
Joseph Caprara, 20, is a first-time voter and drove up from Bloomington to cast his vote in Fishers. Caprara said he is voting for Trump based on his economic and immigration policies. He said he wants to see reduced inflation and less illegal immigration.
Gretchen Haley, 37, said two issues brought her out to vote: the economy and the border.
Haley said she will vote for Trump to improve the safety of the country and for the ability to afford everyday expenses. Haley voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 and said she is likely voting for a straight Republican ticket. She said she researched the school board candidates and is focused on the safety of the schools and well-being of the children.
John Maurikis, 56, said he is voting for Trump but will also be voting for some Democrats, too.
— Karl Schneider
‘Picking the lesser of two evils’
Solomon Lee, 24, said it took some convincing from his parents to vote in this election. He voted a straight Democratic ticket at the City-County Building.
“There’s a lot of outside pressure on people of my color to vote that way,” said Lee, who is a salesman.
While he’s comfortable with his decision, which includes supporting current Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Jennifer McCormick for Indiana governor, Lee said he plans to do more research on candidates in both parties in the next election.
As of now, “it’s kind of just picking the lesser of two evils,” he said.
— Alexandria Burris
Voter sees Harris’ and McCormick’s policies as better
Steven Kent, 63, said he voted a straight Democrat ticket. He voted for Harris because he dislikes Trump’s rhetoric.
“I think she is a lot smarter than Trump. Every day at his rallies he was saying serious hate(ful) stuff,” said Kent, who voted at the City-County Building.
Trump mocked people, Kent said. He doesn’t find the former president’s rhetoric funny and holds Trump responsible for encouraging his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“He ordered that,” said Kent, a lifelong Democrat who is now retired.
Voting straight-party also means Kent’s choice for Indiana governor is McCormick and not Braun.
“I like her policies better than his,” Kent said.
— Alexandria Burris
Line to vote forms before polls open at St. George in Fishers
Lines at St. George Orthodox Christian Church in Fishers wrapped along the front of the building 20 minutes before the doors opened at 6 a.m. The line moved quickly when a poll worker, announcing that voting could begin, opened the doors.
David Delafield, 61, who was standing in line, said he leans blue but was planning on voting for some Republican candidates in the congressional races. Delafield said voting means a lot to him, as his World War II veteran father always encouraged his kids.
Randy Pinkston, 59, said he is voting straight Republican. Those candidates focus on conservative values, Pinkston said, such as the economy and the direction of the country and state.
Nate Nupanga, 32, has three young kids and said the school district races are important to him. Nupanga said he wants to see policies that empower parents to be parents.
Lawrence and Christi Harden, both in their early 50s, were in line around 6 a.m. Christi is a teacher and said she’s voting for McCormick because other candidates want to take money away from public schools and she doesn’t want to see that happen.
Jeffrey Hicks, 42, said he came to vote and preserve democracy. Hicks said the school board race is of particular interest to him because he feels the board has been hijacked and is no longer about the students.
“I believe that teachers need freedom to educate without having to look over their shoulder from multiple directions,” Hicks said.
— Karl Schneider
Marion County voters can vote at any vote center listed at vote.indy.gov on Election Day. You read that right: ANY vote center in Marion County.
Hamilton County voters, however, have specific polling locations to visit on Election Day. Find your polling location for Hamilton County and any of the other 90 counties in Indiana by visiting the state’s voter portal at indianavoters.in.gov.
And don’t forget to bring a government-issued photo identification with you to the polls. Find more on what an acceptable photo ID is from the Secretary of State’s website here.
— Brittany Carloni
There are several trustworthy websites you can visit to make sure you know what’s on your specific ballot before walking into the polls. IndyStar has compiled a list of who is on the ballot in Hamilton County and who is on the ballot in Marion County.
The Indiana voter portal is also available through the Secretary of State’s website at indianavoters.in.gov, which will provide your voting location, voting status and a full list of the candidates on your exact ballot.
You can also read our extensive IndyStar coverage from the last several months on our voter guide here.
— Brittany Carloni
Indiana voter guide:Who’s running for Congress, Statehouse, governor, AG and school board
Governors race is top Indiana race to watch
With one last $50,000 cherry-on-top donation over the weekend, the Democratic Governors Association has now pumped $2 million into Jennifer McCormick’s Democratic campaign for Indiana governor, as has the Republican Governors Association into Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun’s campaign.
That tells you what you need to know about how closely watched, and potentially competitive, this once-sleepy race has become, in just the home stretch.
Republicans have even spent some money attacking the Libertarian candidate, Donald Rainwater, in recent weeks.
After two decades of Republican governors, many are watching closely to see if Hoosiers will decide as expected or throw in a surprise upset.
— Kayla Dwyer
From the May primary race:Mike Braun is leading the race for governor. But is his record a liability or benefit?
More about Jennifer McCormick:She rode the 2016 GOP wave. Now McCormick is running for governor as a Democrat
More about Donald Rainwater:Libertarian Rainwater benefitted from anger over COVID-19 in 2020. What about 2024?
Will voters reelect Attorney General Todd Rokita?
Republican Todd Rokita is running for reelection against Democrat Destiny Wells.
Rokita had a dominant lead in the sole independent poll conducted in Indiana. September’s Emerson College poll had Rokita leading Wells 49% to 35%, with 16% of the electorate undecided.
Rokita also is ahead overall on fundraising totals, although Wells brought in more money in the fourth quarter of the race. Back in 2020, Rokita won his race by more than 16 points.
— Hayleigh Colombo
Read more about Todd Rokita:Two decades in public life has shaped Rokita into a fighter. But it’s not without a cost.
Will Indiana vote for Trump or Harris?
We won’t *officially* know until the results come in, but expectations are that former President Donald Trump will win Indiana for the third time.
Trump won Indiana in 2016 and 2020 with about 57 percent of the vote. Recent polling in Indiana shows the former president remains highly popular in the Hoosier State, even with Kamala Harris’ rise to the top of the Democratic ticket this summer.
— Brittany Carloni
U.S. Senate, House races not expected to be competitive
It is likely Indiana will get quick results for the state’s U.S. Senate rate and the majority of the U.S. House races.
Outside of Indiana’s 1st Congressional District, none of the general elections for U.S. Senate or the other eight seats in the House of Representatives have been labeled competitive races by national election analysts. Most of the competitive races for these seats were in the May primary.
The U.S. Senate race is an open seat due to Republican Mike Braun running for governor this year. Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Banks is the favorite in that election, which also includes Democrat Valerie McCray and Libertarian Andrew Horning.
— Brittany Carloni
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