On Nov. 4, residents across Marion County will cast their votes in the 2014 general election. Among the offices up for re-election this year are secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and United States Representative to name a few.
Despite the fact that the aforementioned political offices play a significant role in the overall quality of life for Indianapolis residents, voter turnout has fluctuated over the past years with a mere 7.9 percent of registered voters participating in May’s primary.
“People are emotional voters so generally, presidential elections are where people turn out,” said Eugene Hawkins, a civic engagement coordinator with the Greater Indianapolis Branch of the NAACP. “When there’s no big emotional race, people aren’t voting. They don’t understand the whole process and then they regret that they didn’t participate when they see the outcome.”
Hawkins, who occasionally works as a polling place inspector in Pike Township, shared that he has noticed fluctuating attendance between different elections. With the Oct. 6 voter registration deadline fast approaching, NAACP President Chrystal Ratcliffe and other officials are reaching out to potential voters via door-to-door canvassing in targeted areas with a high concentration of non-registered citizens. Voter registration drives and voter education events are underway, said Hawkins. The NAACP’s goal: signing up at least 10,000 new registrants across Indiana.
“We’re non partisan so our goal is to engage as many people as possible – what they do behind the little sheet is up to them,” said Hawkins. “We’re focused on educating people about how not voting now has serious implications later. If people know those things they now have a conscious choice to make.”
Cindy Mowery, the Republican co-director of the Marion County Voter Registration Board, said intimidation and a lack of proper information may be responsible for low turnout.
“I think to a lot of people, specifically those that are elderly and also new voters, they’re intimidated with what they have to do to vote,” said Mowery. “They don’t realize how simple it is. You can come into the Marion County Clerk’s office and it’s a matter of filling in circles next to the name of the candidate of your choice – I think a lot of people think it’s a much more complicated process than what it really is.”
Earlier this year, the Marion County Election Board failed to reach a unanimous decision regarding the opening of additional early voting sites (also known as “satellite” locations), and conducting precinct-based counting of absentee ballots. The Republican Party’s decision to vote against the resolution limited early voting to just one location – the Clerk’s office in downtown Indianapolis.
In an interview with the Recorder, Marion County Clerk Beth White said she was “saddened” that her office could not better serve the residents of Marion County. “Early voting is a popular and convenient option for many people. I’m pleased we will continue to offer early voting in my office, but the Election Board could do much more to encourage civic participation by allowing additional sites around the county,” she said.
LaDonna Freeman, who serves as the Democratic co-director of the voter registration board, said voters who anticipate difficulty making it to the polls Nov. 4, should use the other resources available to them. “People can vote by mail or absentee-by-traveling- board if they’re confined – there are all sorts of ways people can vote.”
For more information on voting, call the Indiana Election Division at (800) 622-4941 or visit indianavoter.in.gov.
