Information in this fact sheet was provided by the Marion County Clerk’s Office, which runs the election in Indianapolis. The information was provided on Oct. 24.
Voter Registration
Voter registration deadline was Tuesday, Oct. 11. As of Oct. 18 there were 603,875 Marion County residents registered to vote. About 7,729 Marion County residents either newly registered or updated their voter registration records since the May 2011 primary election.
Total Number of Precincts: 590
Total Number of Polling Locations: 316
Absentee and Early Voting
• By mail
o As of Oct. 13, 9,826 voters have requested an absentee ballot to vote by mail (9,132) or traveling board (694).
o Midnight, Oct. 31: Deadline for the clerk’s office to receive mailed or faxed absentee ballot applications to vote by mail or traveling board.
o Deadline for clerk’s office to receive mailed absentee ballots is 6 p.m. Election Day, Nov. 8.
• As of Oct. 23, 6,184 ballots have been received by the Election Board.
• Ballots postmarked before Nov. 8 but received after 6 p.m. on Nov. 8 may not be counted.
o Noon, Monday, Nov. 7 is the deadline to submit an application for traveling board.
• Early Voting in the Office of the Marion County Clerk
Located in the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., Room W-122 (west wing)
o As of Oct. 23, 2,074 voters have early voted
o Early voting began Oct. 10
• Oct. 24 to Oct. 28: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oct. 29 and Oct. 30: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Extended hours. Oct. 31 to Nov. 4: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Nov. 5 and Nov. 6: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Last day. Nov. 7: 8 a.m. to noon.
o Parking is available at the lots at Alabama and Market streets. Voters must pre-pay the lot’s parking fee, but it is refunded upon exiting when the lot attendant receives a parking voucher. Parking vouchers are available to voters in the Election Board office.
o The Delaware Street entrance to the City-County Building is now available to early voters. Voters should notify the security guard upon entering that they are here to vote.
Early Voting Comparisons
For the first two weeks of early voting in…
• 2007: 453 total early voters; 6,967 vote-by-mail applications received
o NOTE: no weekend early voting in the first two weeks of the 2007 municipal election
• 2010: 2,004 total early voters; 9,532 vote-by-mail applications received
o NOTE: two full weekends of early voting in the first two weeks of the 2010 general election
• 2011: 2,074 total early voters; 9,132 vote-by-mail applications received
o NOTE: one full weekend of early voting in the first two weeks of the 2011 municipal election
Poll Worker Recruitment
For the 2011 municipal election, the Marion County Election Board is working with the political parties to recruit, train and appoint Election Day precinct Inspectors. The major political parties are responsible by law for designating precinct Clerks and Judges. There is still time to sign up to serve as a poll worker.
Inspector Supply Pick-Up
Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at four regional sites
o Center: Thomas D. Gregg (IPS 15), 2302 E. Michigan St.
o Northeast: Belzer Middle School, 7555 E. 56th St.
o Southeast: Arlington Elementary School, 5814 S. Arlington.
o West: Chapelwood Elementary School, 1129 N. Girls School Road.
Election Results
• Data from the electronic media from the voting machines is uploaded from four regional locations to the Election Services Center, 3737 E. Washington St.
o Members of the press and the public are welcome to be on-site after 6 p.m. to watch the returns. Election Board members will brief the media as needed from this location.
• Results are released cumulatively on the city’s website – www.indy.gov and www.indy.gov/election
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I find out where I go to vote?
Use the Marion County Voter Information Portal – www.indy.gov/VIP – to determine your polling location and get driving directions. You can also call (317) 327-VOTE to confirm your registration status and polling location.
2. What happens if I go to the wrong polling location on Election Day?
When you go to a polling location on Election Day, your first stop is at the clerk’s table to be checked into the poll book. If your name is not in the poll book, you or the poll worker can call voter registration at 327-VOTE to confirm where you are to go to vote. However, if your name was accidentally left off the poll book, the voter registration official can issue a certificate of error and you will be permitted to vote.
3. Why do I have two mayors on my ballot?
In the excluded cities of Beech Grove, Southport and Lawrence, voters will have candidates for Indianapolis mayor and the candidates for mayor in their excluded city, and candidates for the City-County Council and candidates for their city council. Speedway has an appointed town manager, but their voters will elect town council members. Some smaller towns like Clermont and Wynnedale will also have town council and clerk-treasurer races on their ballot.
4. What are my voting options when marking the ballot?
Voters have three ways to mark their ballots in a general election:
• Straight party: darken the oval next to the name of a political party and every candidate running for office in that party will receive your vote.
• Ticket-splitting: skip the straight party section and darken ovals next to each individual candidate you are supporting regardless of party affiliation.
• Scratch: this is a hybrid method where you darken the oval next to a political party and select a candidate running in an opposing party in one or more categories. For example, you want to support all Republicans but want to vote for the Democrat candidate running for dog catcher. You would mark the Republican straight party oval, but then cross-over and mark the oval next to the Democratic candidate in the dogcatcher race. Every Republican would receive your vote except for in the dogcatcher race where the Democrat would receive your vote.
