TERRE HAUTE — For the fourth election in a row, registered Vigo County voters can cast an absentee ballot before the May primary election at three satellite voting sites, starting Monday.
The sites are at The Meadows on the main floor of the shopping center; Plaza North Shopping Center at a former theater, which is now Dean’s Party Mania; and at the far south end of Southland Shopping Center. Voters can cast a ballot from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and, under Indiana law, must provide a photo identification when voting. Voters will not be asked to state a reason for voting early.
The sites will remain open until May 5, with voting that day from 8 a.m. until noon. The primary election is May 6, when voting polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Vigo County Clerk Patricia Mansard said 3,621 people voted at the sites in 2006, the last countywide election.
In 2007, when Terre Haute voters cast ballots, 1,607 voters cast a ballot at the sites in the primary election and 2,271 in the November election.
Mansard expects many more voters to visit the sites, as it is the first time the sites have been open during a presidential election year.
“This is the largest election we have had in [providing the absentee ballot voting sites] and obviously this election with presidential impact, with Indiana possibly being relevant in selecting a [Democratic] nominee, we’re anticipating it will be a very heightened participation in this election,” Mansard said. “There are a lot of people working hard and with enthusiasm to register people to vote. Monday is the last day to register.
“The [absentee] voting sites are extremely popular with people. We’re trying to encourage people to participate in our democracy and get everybody who can vote to vote,” Mansard said. “I anticipate that voting [numbers] will be up, and we are trying to make the best possible decision we can on the number of ballots that we will need. We won’t have the information on the number of additional registered voters we have and where they are until probably the end of next week.”
Depending upon action from the Indiana General Assembly, Mansard said, Indiana could move away from voting precincts to larger voting sites in future elections. “The Legislature didn’t pass that this year in the short session, but may take that up again next year,” she said.
“There has been a tremendous amount of change in the administration of elections, from changes in laws, procedures and equipment. The administration of elections are now year-round, full-time,” Mansard added.
Mansard said Meadows is the most popular of the three sites, with Plaza North attracting the second-highest number of voters casting an absentee ballot. Mansard said the absentee ballots will be removed each day from the voting sites with a Democrat and Republican bringing the ballots to a secured area to be counted on election day.
The Vigo County Board of Commissioners designates the voting sites. Commissioners signed leases for the three sites, with the leases running from March 31 to May 9. The lease cost is $1,700 for Southland; $1,200 for The Meadows; and $2,500 for the Dean’s Party Mania store at Plaza North.
The county also will pay for temporary telephone connections and provide insurance coverage for each site. Previously, leasing cost for the sites was $5,200 in 2006 and $10,800 in 2007, which had two rental periods.
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
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Vigo satellite voting starts Monday
Three sites to remain open until May 5
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