Early voting kicked off in Indiana on Tuesday with a surge of eager voters at Gary’s sole polling site, the Gary Public Library on Fifth Avenue. Within the first hour of the 9 a.m. opening, a line of voters had already stretched out the door.
“It’s time to vote!” exclaimed Ken Britt as he hoisted a “Vote Here” sign.
Pamela May, the first in line and a library employee, was impressed by the strong turnout. “This is good,” she said, watching the steady stream of voters. “As the day progresses, it’ll start to be more and more people. We’re going to need to put out some extra chairs.”
By 10 a.m., they were already placing extra chairs in the hallway, outside the voting room, to accommodate those waiting in the long line to vote.
Though official numbers aren’t in yet, the first hour alone saw nearly 50 voters — a sharp contrast to the mere 19 who voted on the entire first day of the April primary at the same location. Early signs suggest this election could draw a significantly larger crowd than in past contests.
Lake County residents have the option to vote in person at any of the 11 designated early voting locations across the county. With voting season officially underway, here’s what Hoosiers and Lake County residents need to know to cast their ballot:
Early voting times and locations
Early voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Gary residents can cast early ballots at the Gary Public Library, the city’s only early voting location, during the following hours:
- 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Nov. 4 (Monday before election day)
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
- 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Nov. 2
In addition, other Lake County early voting locations include:
- Lake County Board of Elections
- East Chicago County Courthouse
- Hammond County Courthouse
- Hobart Police Center
- Lowell Town Hall
- Munster Town Hall
- Schererville Town Hall
- St. John Township Assessor’s Office
- Wicker Park Breezeway
- Winfield Government Complex
If I vote in person, what do I need to know?
Indiana does not allow in-person registration on Election Day, so prospective voters need to register by the Oct. 7 deadline.
To vote in person, voters are required to present a photo ID. That ID must meet the following four criteria:
- The ID must display a voter’s photo.
- The voter’s name must conform (not match identically) to the name on the voter registration file.
- The voter’s ID must contain an expiration date and either be current or have expired after 11/8/22.
- The voter’s ID must be issued by the state of Indiana or the U.S. government.
(Note: The address on the voter’s ID does not need to match the address on the voter registration.)
Election Day voting locations
Can’t make it to early voting? Look up your polling location for Election Day and make a plan! There will be nearly 30 polling sites in Gary for the general election on Nov 5. The Voting Information Project has created a voting tool that allows voters to search for their polling site. Simply enter the address where you are registered to vote, and the website will display your voting location.
What are my rights as a voter?
A felony conviction does not disqualify Indiana residents from voting. You should not be asked a question regarding felony status if not currently incarcerated.
In case of any issues, voters are encouraged to reach out to the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration at (219) 755-3795.
Mail voting
Yes. The deadline to request a mailed ballot is Oct. 24. The request can be made one of four ways:
- Appear in the office of the county election board
- Call the county election board to request an application
- Email the county election board at lcabsenteevoting@lakecountyin.org
- Visit the online portal through the Office of Indiana Secretary of State (www.indianavoters.com)
The completed application may be returned to the Indiana Election Division or to the county election board prior to the deadline at the top of the application form:
- Hand-delivery or mail to 2293 N. Main St., Ste A-205, Crown Point, IN 46307
- Email to lcabsenteevoting@lakecountyin.org
- Fax to (219) 755-3801