In recent years, the voter turnout in local elections was disappointingly low. According to the Indiana Secretary of State’s office, approximately 20% of eligible voters in the city cast their ballots. This year did not seem any different. Polls that are usually crowded in the wee hours of the morning during presidential elections were a ghost town. This trend is concerning but the inquiry burns hotter: Why don’t more people in Indianapolis vote? Is it a factor of time and accessibility, or has the city become apathetic to politics altogether?
There could be several factors at play here. For instance, there is a general sense of apathy directed toward Indianapolis’ political structure. Many Hoosiers feel that their vote does not matter and that their voice will not be heard. They may also feel disillusioned with the super red structure as a whole and do not see the point in participating at all.
The former is a sad yet realistic view of politics held by many voters in the city.
On the contrary, there is a respectable number of residents that exercised their right to vote simply because once upon a time they could not. Several people vividly remember what it was like before women or people of color could vote. That is a big enough push for them to utilize their voices as often as possible. The Indianapolis vote from the aforementioned populace is sturdy and consistent every election.
Another cause could be a lack of awareness on election issues and candidates. Many people may not be informed about the candidates running for office or the policies they believe in. For instance, many voters were unaware of the IPS referendum that was on the ballot this year.
Why Indianapolis isn’t voting
Some believe this could be due to a lack of coverage in the media. Others think it is a lack of engagement from local community organizations. However, this is doubtful. Many community organizations serve as polling places and often work to engage the community in advance with voter registration, candidate fact cards and more.
Furthermore, there may be barriers to voting that prevent people from exercising their rights. For instance, some individuals may not have access to transportation to get to the polls, while other Hoosiers may have work or family obligations that make it challenging to find the time to vote.
However, countless community organizations in Indiana have increased voter awareness and poll accessibility by offering reminders and transportation to local polling places.
Whatever the reason for the low voter turnout, it is clear that more needs to be done to engage people in Indianapolis to ensure they participate in the democratic process. For the results of the 2023 elections, click here.
Contact multi-media staff writer Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or email at NoralP@IndyRecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @NoralParham.
