Despite the sharp winds and chill in the air, voters lined up at the polls in Warren Township on primary election day on May 2.
Voting sites included the Warren Township Government Center, as well as the Gethsemane Lutheran Church and Old Bethel United Methodist Church. While several people voiced concern over the mayoral race, the handful of City-County Council seats up for grabs and the Warren Central High School referendum, many came out to vote simply to make their voices heard — stressing the importance of the Black vote.
“I was hoping the lines would be shorter,” said Kathy Watts of Indianapolis, noting how many people were waiting in line with her in the lobby of the polling center just before 9 a.m. “But it’s a nice thing to see.”
Watts said the turnout was impressive considering how often people in the Black community tend to skip voting on Election Day.
“It’s an important thing to do if you want your voice to be heard,” she added. “I just hope that it turns out our way.”
Charles Hibbitt just moved to Warren Township but said he liked how easy it was to find a polling location and go out to vote. There were 14 total in the area, including fire stations, churches and public schools.
“When I was 18 and was first able to vote, my dad brought me to the polls and emphasized the importance of voting,” Hibbitt said. “As the years went on, I realized the importance of voting.”
David Williams, a retired sports official from the far westside, has worked at the front desk of the Warren Township Government Center four days a week for the last year, including the previous election season. However, working on Election Day is something he enjoys — watching people of all walks of life come in to vote and arriving from early morning to early evening.
Polls in Indiana are open from 6 a.m, to 6 p.m.
Williams said it is common to get an influx of voters right when they open, then there is a lull as parents get their kids to school and others head to work. The older crowd usually comes out in droves from about 9 a,m. to 11 a.m., he said, then there is another rush during lunchtime.
However, Williams said he took advantage of early voting to cast his own vote.
But the flow of community members, teachers and public safety officers through the doors on Election Day provides good conversation, and a chance for Williams to work on some poetry while he waits.
“You know, you talk to people as they come in, and one guy comes in, he says, ‘I made it through the gauntlet,’” Williams said, referring to the people waiting outside the polling location attempting to do some last-minute campaigning. “Some [people] will have questions and whatnot, and then some will just stop and want to chat.”
Indianapolis resident Rajah Tarleton is a Poll Inspector at Old Bethel UMC. Although this is only his second year in charge of the Old Bethel location, he said he has been working at polling locations for about a decade.
“When I first started [working the polls], I just always wanted to do it ever since,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for 10 years … basically just helping people out.”
As a poll inspector, Tarleton makes sure votes are properly recorded, feeding ballots into the machine and fixing paper jams as they inevitably come up. He also solves problems as they come up.
Although major issues with people’s ballots are rare, accidents do happen, and Tarleton works patiently with voters to find a solution and make sure their votes get cast.
Ironically, however, Tarleton does not vote. He said he is not interested in politics in that way but always works at the polls anyway, adding that his passion for helping those in his community brings him back each year.
“Sometimes it’ll stress you. But other than that, it’s fun,” Tarleton said.
This story has been updated. A previous version of this story identified Rajah Tarleton as a volunteer poll worker. This is incorrect. Marion County pays poll workers a stipend for their time. The Recorder makes every effort to correct its mistakes.
Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
