🗳️ RESULTS 11:46 p.m.
Incumbents sweep Indianapolis Statehouse seats, per preliminary results
As of 11 p.m. and with 100% of precincts reporting, incumbent senators and representatives were ahead in most of the competitive Statehouse races in Marion County, according to preliminary results.
🗳️ RESULTS 11:21 p.m.
Here are the results for Marion County school board
With 100% of precincts reporting, there were a few upsets in school board races across Marion County, though most incumbents held onto their seats. Read more here.
🗳️ RESULTS 9:30 p.m.
AP: Shreve, Carson win U.S. House seats
U.S. Rep. André Carson, D-Indianapolis, defeated Republican John Schmitz and Libertarian Rusty Johnson to win reelection in House District 7, according to the AP. Carson was first elected in 2008.
The AP also called the U.S. House District 6 race for Republican Jefferson Shreve, who defeated Democrat Cynthia Wirth. Shreve ran in last year’s Indianapolis mayoral election, but lost to incumbent Democrat Joe Hogsett. U.S. Rep. Greg Pence, R-Columbus, did not run for reelection.
more from election night:
Photos: Inside the Republican and Democratic election night parties
🗳️ RESULTS 9:04 p.m.
AP: Rokita wins reelection
With 53% of precincts reporting, the AP called the attorney general race for the Republican incumbent Todd Rokita. Rokita defeated Democratic challenger Destiny Wells.
🗳️ RESULTS 7:14 p.m.
AP: Trump, Braun, Banks win Indiana
Republicans swept three of the top races on Indiana’s ballot with 14% of votes counted, according to the Associated Press, which called the races as the last polls closed at 7 p.m.
Former President Donald Trump won the state, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris.
U.S. Sen. Mike Braun defeated Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater in the governor’s race. Rep. Jim Banks beat Democrat Valerie McCray and Libertarian Andrew Horning in the race to replace Braun in the U.S. Senate.
UPDATE 7:31 p.m.
Anti-Trump sentiment motivates voter
Documenter Franklin Bennett interviewed voters at the Eskenazi Health Center Pecar.
Democrat Barbara Jones, 73, said she was focused on women’s health care, the military and political polarization.
“It’s a privilege for me to be able to vote,” Jones said.
Melissa Sherlock voted straight-ticket Democrat. She said she cares deeply about employment and military conflicts.
When Bennett asked why she came out to vote, Sherlock, 43, said, “because I hate Donald Trump.”
UPDATE 7:01 p.m.
‘Poll workers, they slayed’ on busy Election Day
As of just before 7 p.m., the Marion County Clerk’s Office reported 191,590 people had voted in Marion County on Election Day.
That number is preliminary, but clerk’s office spokesperson Dan Goldblatt said he doesn’t expect it to change much.
Combined with early voting, that brings Marion County’s voter total to over 350,000 — not enough to pass the nearly 400,000 votes cast in the 2020 election.
Goldblatt said the day went smoothly, aside from some long lines in the morning.
“Our poll workers, they slayed, really,” he said. “They’re really good at what they do.”
UPDATE 6:27 p.m.
Harris voter says: ‘I’m ready for change’
Documenter Kelli Jack-Kelly interviewed voters at Allisonville Christian Church. She asked neighbors what brought them out to the polls.
Austin Miller, 23, a first-time voter, said he finally feels mature enough to vote.
Miller said he doesn’t have one specific issue that brought him to the polls, nor does he have a political preference.
“I think I’m too young. I don’t like to just follow my family. I just decide on which candidate is the best one,” he said. “It’s an important year.”
Michaela Gilliam, 24, said lots of different issues brought her to the polls. She proudly cast her vote for Kamala Harris on Election Day.
“I was very excited to be part of this election,” Gilliam said. “I feel like there are a lot of things that are going to be answered.”
Gilliam said people coming together motivated her to get to the polls.
“I’m ready for change,” she said.
Nancy Montague, a Republican, said she’s interested in a variety of political issues.
“I’m Latina, and I’m concerned about everything,” Montague, 61, said.
She said she wants “equal pay for everyone” and a better community for all.
UPDATE 6:06 p.m.
Polls are closed in Marion County
It’s official: Polls are closed in most of the state, aside from parts of northwest and southwest Indiana.
A reminder: If you are in line to vote at 6 p.m., stay in line! You have the right to cast your ballot.
UPDATE 6:06 p.m.
1st-time voters brave the rain
Fifteen minutes before polls closed at Perry Meridian High School, the rain had thinned down the lines.
The bad weather didn’t deter two friends, Rayvin Birbwell and Layla Thalley, both 20, from voting in their first election.
“I’m doing this for my community,” Thalley said.
UPDATE 5:58 p.m.
Documenter Key King interviewed voters at the Garfield Park Burrello Family Center.
Amber Janzen, a Democrat, said voting is important because of the sacrifices it took for people to get that right.
“Many women and minorities fought for our rights so I want to exercise it and keep it,” Janzen said.
Katy Meyers, who also considers herself a Democrat, votes in every election.
“I call myself a team captain of hating the Democrats, but I would never vote another way,” she said, calling herself a team player.
Lori Gilley, who lives in Bates-Hendricks, said she doesn’t vote straight-ticket for either Republicans or Democrats.
“I want to give the candidates I like a chance,” said Gilley.
UPDATE 5:42 p.m.
3 generations of Black women vote for Kamala Harris
Three generations of Black women cast their ballots for Kamala Harris today at the Washington Township Government Center.
Dorothy Armstrong, 94, lived through segregation to get to this moment. “I remember going down south on a bus,” she said. “I didn’t realize I had sat in the whites only section.”
She grinned ear to ear watching her great-granddaughter vote. The smile only widened as she contemplated a historic Harris win.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Armstrong said.
Her daughter, Stephanie Groves, has been working to make it happen. The eastsider has voted in every election, phone banking and volunteering at the polls. Her 2024 sticker rests proudly next to a member pin for Sigma Gamma Rho, a historically Black sorority founded in Indianapolis.
“When she wins, I know the plane fare to D.C. will be high,” Groves told Mirror Indy. “But I will go to the inauguration.”
Standing next to her grandmother and great-grandmother, Ariyanna Stewart, 18, felt the weight of history as she voted for the first time.
“Change is good,” Stewart said. “All we’ve ever really known is a man being president.”
The three women walked out together, uncertain but hopeful, into the rainy parking lot.
Armstrong stopped for a moment, bending down past her walker to pick up a quarter. She looked at George Washington’s face.
“For good luck,” she said, slipping it in her pocket.
UPDATE 4:56 p.m.
Group cheering on voters reminded they can’t hand out water, snacks
The Alpha Kappa Alpha political action committee cheered on voters today as they left the polls outside of the Lawrence Education & Community Center. But the group, which is the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority, was asked to remove the bottled water and snacks it had planned to hand out to voters following complaints from a school board candidate’s wife.
“It is disheartening to know that people would not be happy to see our smiling faces,” said group member Sheila Bonds. “As Black women, we are allowed to come outside and celebrate just like the next person.”
Jennifer Young, who is the wife of Lawrence Township at-large school board candidate Eric Young, complained to election officials the group was campaigning for at-large incumbent Crystal Puckett.
“My main complaint is that it is pretty obvious that we are standing in front of where the school board meets and they all support her and they are having a party for her,” Jennifer Young said.
Young said she did not hear the group say it was endorsing Puckett.
Puckett was also outside the education center campaigning with her daughters. She said she was not campaigning with the Alpha Kappa Alphas. She told Mirror Indy she did not know the group, but has previously spoken at one of its meetings.
“During my campaign season, I made sure to get out as much as I possibly could and they graciously allowed me to come into their space and share with them,” Puckett said.
The group told Mirror Indy they were nonpartisan, were not campaigning and only wanted to celebrate voters.
Marion County Clerk’s Office spokesperson Dan Goldblatt said there have been several complaints of people campaigning at various poll sites today. Goldblatt said that is legal.
“In Indiana, as long as they are 50 feet away, they can campaign,” Goldblatt said. “They just are not allowed to hand out food or drink.”
UPDATE 4:15 p.m.
A straight ticket Republican voter, except for governor
Indy Documenter Brianna Dines interviewed voters at the Christian Park polling location, where Brianna asked neighbors about what brought them out to the polls.
Meghan Sommers, 25, said she generally leans right.
“I’m American and elections are important,” she said. “I don’t care who you vote for, you just gotta come out and vote.”
Sommers said the biggest issue for her is taxes. “Property taxes are high. It’s hard to keep the money that I’m earning,” Sommers said.
Bonnie Ohrig, 82, Democrat, said she came to vote against former President Trump.
“You hear people say, ‘I’ve never voted Democrat.’ Well, get with the program,” Ohrig said.
Ohrig said her most important issue is abortion.
Jasmine Deubner, 20, said she’s a first-time voter.
“I originally wanted to do straight ticket Republican, but I kind of like Jennifer McCormick’s view on the education system,” Deubner said. “So straight ticket except for Jennifer McCormick.”
Deubner said school issues are important to her.
“The school systems need to be worked on. There’s not a lot of 1:1 with students anymore,” she said. She mentioned that home economics and arts programs need more funding.
She also mentioned her support for legalizing marijuana.
“I feel like right now opiates and harder drugs are taking over our streets,” she said, but marijuana could help them. Deubner said she carries five doses of nasal Narcan around with her just in case. “We drive past people overdosing constantly,” she said.
UPDATE 3:50 p.m.
Voter targets Indiana Supreme Court judges
Leesa Smith decided to use her ballot as a proxy for term limits.
Smith, 65, voted against retaining the three Indiana Supreme Court justices up for retention this year. Two of the three justices have been on the bench since 2012, and Smith said that’s too long.
Plus, she wasn’t happy with their decision to uphold Indiana’s near-total abortion ban — a move that caught her off guard because she considered abortion to be settled already under Roe v. Wade.
“I thought it was pretty much a done deal,” Smith said after voting at Barton Annex.
And Smith, who said she’s voted for Democrats and Republicans in the past, said abortion was a key issue in her decision to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
She’s also worried about what a second Donald Trump presidency might bring.
“We can’t go back to what we had before,” Smith said.
UPDATE 3:47 p.m.
Turnout tops 300,000
More than 140,000 Marion County voters have cast a ballot today. Combined with early voting, that brings turnout up to more than 300,000 so far.
That’s compared to the nearly 400,000 votes cast in Marion County in 2020.
Voting has been smooth sailing for the most part, according to Dan Goldblatt, director of policy and communications for the Marion County Clerk’s Office. He said he’d heard of a few cases where voters may have been improperly turned away for wearing political clothing.
Voters are allowed to wear what they want as long as they don’t wear something that promotes a particular candidate. But wearing something more general, such as a shirt expressing support for LGBTQ+ communities, is allowed.
Goldblatt said poll workers are trained extensively on these rules, and his office works quickly to reinforce the rules when issues arise. There are a few thousand poll workers at voting sites today.
UPDATE 3:26 p.m.
Hoping for a historic inauguration
Julie Ahlrich brought her daughter along for voting at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse.
At 7, Abby can’t cast a ballot yet. But she did help her mom by pushing the buttons.
“I wanted her to see the whole process,” Ahlrich told Mirror Indy.
They’re hoping for a Harris win. They’ve already booked two plane tickets to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration.
“It would be an unbelievable experience,” the 48-year-old from Broad Ripple said, tears in her eyes. “My daughter may not remember it or understand what all this means, but I want her to share that moment in time with me.”
UPDATE 3:12 p.m.
Ben Davis grad’s first vote
Mykal Denny, 19, is voting in his first presidential election.
He says he’s studied the candidates and knows that Vice President Kamala Harris is the better option for him. He stood in line for about two hours with his mom, Cathy, in order to cast his vote for Harris at Ben Davis High School, his alma mater.
“She’ll protect abortion rights and protect transgender health care rights,” he said, “but I do wish that Harris was specifically better on the genocide in Gaza.”
Denny said he was less informed about local candidates.
“I actually don’t know too much about local elections,” he told Mirror Indy. “I’m planning on becoming more politically active at the local level, but this is my first time voting.”
UPDATE 3:10 p.m.
Indy Documenters at the polls
Indy Documenters are citizen journalists paid to attend public meetings and keep our neighbors informed. Today, we’ve asked them to send us reports from the polls.
Documenter Quentessa Sanders interviewed voters at Community Alliance of the Far Eastside and the Amber Woods apartment complex. Quentessa asked neighbors, “What brings you out to the polls?”
William Adams, 42, said he is a Democrat from the west side. He said, “I’m ready for the first lady. I’m ready.”
Nicholas Hillman, 42, a Republican from the Far Eastside. He said, “Make America Great Again.”
Naomi Oglesby, 86, a Democrat from the Far Eastside. She said, “Just doing my civic duty.”
UPDATE 3:04 p.m.
Wanting more options down ballot
Marinette Adams waited for an hour and 40 minutes to cast her ballot at Ben Davis High School. She did not want to say which presidential candidate she voted for, but said she was looking for the person that “was actually for the people and not for themselves.”
But her choice for president was much easier than the down ballot choices.
“After the first question, you start thinking like, ‘What? I don’t know this person,’” Adams said. “It was a process.”
She said, overall, she was disappointed with most of the candidates she got to choose from and hopes future elections have better choices for her.
“I hope people run that actually are for the people,” Adams said. “That stop saying, ‘You know, I’m down for the people, I’m this and I’m that,’ and in reality, they’re just looking to make a fast buck.”
But no matter which candidates you like, Adams said people need to come out and vote.
“I already put it on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor… everybody should go out and vote,” she said. “I don’t care if you’re voting for Trump or Harris. You should get out and express how you feel and support the person that you want to support, whether that’s a Democrat or a Republican.”
UPDATE 2:17 p.m.
‘I’m voting for human rights’
Dalton Gilo wore a pride tank top to polls.
“I really do believe this might be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetimes,” the 27-year-old from Meridian-Kessler told Mirror Indy.
His husband and their two dogs — named Hoosier and Wabash — waited in the car while he cast his vote at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Before the big moment, Gilo reflected on the people who came before him in the LGBTQ+ community: the ones who built a world where he could safely come out and be voted prom king at Center Grove High School.
“I’m voting for human rights,” he said.
His ballot will be filled in for Jennifer McCormick in the governor’s race. And he’s ready to vote against retaining three of the justices on Indiana’s Supreme Court who upheld the state’s near-total abortion ban.
“They need to lose their jobs for totally tanking women’s rights in Indiana,” Gilo said.
UPDATE 12:48 p.m.
Cheers for a first time voter
When Vonn Smith checked in to vote at Garfield Park Burrello Center, he was met with a “First time voter!” cheer from the volunteers. Before he cast his ballot just after noon, he told Mirror Indy he is mainly concerned about strengthening local education and the national economy.
“Indiana has one of the most segregated educational systems in the world,” Smith said. “We need to change that.”
Smith took his time making his selections, Googling the candidates he didn’t know much about.
“It feels really good to vote for the first time,” he said.
UPDATE 12:41 p.m.
Economics behind his vote
Michael Agostino believes former President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator Mike Braun will make the economy great again.
While in line to vote at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, the 61-year-old from Meridian-Kessler said he was most excited about Braun’s proposed property tax cuts.
“The cost of housing for my children who are trying to find apartments has doubled in four years,” Agostino told Mirror Indy.
The national economy was also better under Trump, he said. He described the former president as the superior candidate — more qualified than Kamala Harris: “She has not expressed a depth of knowledge on the issues most Americans are facing.”
Lastly, when asked about abortion rights, one of the top issues driving Democrats to the polls, Agostino said he believed the issue should remain with the states. Indiana was the first in the nation to enact a near-total ban after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
He said abortion is “cruel to the unborn.”
UPDATE 12:32 p.m.
‘Women should have rights’
Robin Johnson, 60, held hands with three young children as she walked to the line outside the Washington Park Family Center. Johnson is a nanny to the three children — ages 7, 4 and 1 — and often takes them to run errands.
“I try to teach them life skills,” Johnson said. “But this is an important thing. I want to show them how it works. Why are we standing in line? Why are you pushing that button?”
Meanwhile, sisters Jamiya Taylor and Jacara Mason were grinning as they walked out of the family center.
Mason, 27, was excited to bring Taylor to vote for the first time.
“I wanted to bring her so she would be able to choose who she wants for president and have a voice,” Mason said.
Taylor, 19, said she voted for Vice President Kamala Harris because of her views on women’s rights.
“I feel like women should have rights to what they can and cannot do with their body,” Taylor said.
UPDATE 12:19 p.m.
Making his way downtown
Harry Dobbins found a little Election Day hack.
The Franklin Township resident usually checks the local government center first. But on this Election Day, after seeing what looked like a long wait time, he made the trip downtown to Lucas Oil Stadium.
There, at 11:30 a.m., there was no line to vote.
Dobbins, 65, said there wasn’t any particular race or issue that grabbed his attention this election cycle. But Dobbins did say there’s always at least one clear-cut reason to get to the polls.
“You can’t complain if you haven’t voted,” he said.
UPDATE 11:43 a.m.
Gametime decision
When Haughville resident Melinda Stone woke up this morning at 4 a.m., she still did not know who she would vote for.
“I was really on the fence,” said Stone, 51. “At one point in time, I was saying I’m not voting for anyone.”
Stone has been a dialysis technician for the last 26 years. The most important issues this election are immigration, inflation and her religious beliefs.
She said she made her decision at the voting machine.
“I have always voted Democrat, but on a spiritual level, I have to go Republican, because I’m against abortions, I’m against same-sex marriage, and, overall, I think (Donald Trump) would be a better leader.”
Stone said you don’t have to agree with her, but you should come out and vote.
“It’s our democracy that’s at stake,” she said. “We must come out and vote. We have to. It’s our civic duty to do it.”
UPDATE 11:39 a.m.
Southside voters look at state and local races
This isn’t the first election that Emma Barnett has been eligible to vote, but it’s been the first time she’s been interested in casting a ballot. The 24-year-old joined her mother, Alison, in the gymnasium of IPS Raymond Brandes School #65 on the south side.
“It’s super exciting to bring my little baby,” Alison Barnett said. “The presidential election is important to us, and women’s rights, and we felt compelled to come out and vote to make our voices heard.”
Daniel Hammon, who has lived on the south side since 1999, is closely watching the gubernatorial race and is concerned about Democratic candidate Jennifer McCormick aligning herself with the national Democratic Party platform. Regardless of how people vote, however, Hammon said he hopes people realize the power of voting.
“It was an excellent experience, and being able to execute our God-given, American rights is very important. This right here,” Hammon said, holding up his “I Voted” sticker, “means more than anything. It’s very important that people realize that the people on the other side believe wholeheartedly in what they’re doing, too.”
Though she won’t be eligible to vote for another 15 years, 3-year-old Taslin accompanied her mother, McKenna Ragsdale, to the voting booth.
The 28-year-old mom of two said her main voting issue is school choice and candidates for the local school board.
“Both my kids are going into school next year, so that made me come out,” Ragsdale said. “That [school choice] voucher helps a lot of families.”
While Taslin was most excited for the sticker that comes with voting, her mom said she hopes tagging along instills something deeper.
“I want to show them that it’s OK to get your voice out there and to not be scared,” Ragsdale said. “A lot of people don’t vote, but it’s important to.”
UPDATE 11:19 a.m.
Looking for an honest candidate
Rachel Stewart, 37, came to vote at the Municipal Gardens Family Center polling place. The Haughville entrepreneur said the main trait she was looking for in a candidate was honesty.
She didn’t want to say which presidential candidate she selected, but she said she’s happy with her decision.
“I wish there were better options,” she said, “but people should just follow their heart.”
Stewart said people should get to the polls and make their own choice for the country’s future.
“They need to vote,” she said. “It’s necessary.”
UPDATE 11:08 a.m.
Turned off by presidential choices, but looking down ballot
West Indianapolis residents Mike and Ginger Clemens have never missed an election, but they said the “poor choices” for the highest office in the country made them think about sitting this election out.
“As far as the presidential candidates…poor choices,” said Mike Clemens, 83. “I debated not voting, but I decided to go ahead and make a choice. It was like hold your nose and cast your ballot.”
“We can do better than this,” said Ginger Clemens, 81.
After thinking about it, the couple decided to show up to vote for other candidates they want to support.
“I don’t think just the president and vice president are the only important ones,” Mike Clemens said. “There are candidates down ballot that are important for the neighborhood, for the city.”
“I voted for Justin Moed,” Ginger Clemens said, referring to the Democratic state representative.
The two said picking their candidates was the hardest part. The actual voting process was a breeze.
“Whoever runs the election process does a good job,” Mike Clemens said.
UPDATE 10:59 a.m.
Faith informed her vote
Since immigrating to the U.S. from Thailand, Michelle Soudaphone has always voted blue.
Not this election, though.
The 67-year-old lined up to vote at the northside St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. After praying, she said, God told her what to do.
“Trump has a big mouth but it doesn’t matter as long as he can do a lot for the country,” said Soudaphone, who lives in the Crown Hill neighborhood. “I want him to stop the war in Ukraine and boost the economy for us.”
In the race for governor, she plans to back U.S. Senator Mike Braun for a strong economy and housing for senior citizens: “He has a strong mind.”
The Democratic party broke too many promises, she said, by funding wars abroad instead of fixing poverty or homelessness in their own backyard.
“Biden supports war,” she said. “Catholics don’t.”
UPDATE 10:51 a.m.
Mother-daughter differences
Madeline Robb, 27, was determined to cast her ballot today, no matter how long the line was at Southport Christian Church. She said the future of women’s rights are on the line.
“As a young woman who doesn’t have children, women’s rights and health issues are a big thing for me,” Robb said. “Also, the Jan. 6 thing was an ick, Donald Trump is an ick, so that’s where I’m at. I’ve always voted Democrat, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I would always, but this one specifically is going to be really detrimental to women’s rights if we don’t vote for Democrats.”
Just a few minutes away at Southport Middle School, mother-daughter duo Patty Sullivan and Sabrina Mejia went together to vote. Sullivan, a night nurse at a local nursing home, said she thought about voting early this election, but lines at the polling locations near her were always too long. This morning, it took the pair 45 minutes to get in the door to cast their ballots.
Mejia, an independent voter, said she leaned more toward Trump due to the cost of living and inflation, while Sullivan voted for Harris, in part, due to rhetoric from the former president.
While both mother and daughter had strong opinions on the presidential election, both admitted they wished they knew more about local elections, including the judges and school board candidates on their ballot.
UPDATE 10:38 a.m.
Could Marion County beat 2020’s turnout numbers?
More than a quarter million Marion County voters will need to turn out on Election Day in order to meet voter turnout in 2020.
Although early in-person voter turnout was higher this year than the last presidential election, it was not enough to make up for the large number of mail-in votes in 2020. As a result, more than 288,000 voters in Marion County will need to come out today.
That shouldn’t be a reach: Except for 2020, Marion County turnout has met or beaten that number on Election Day in every presidential election since 2004.
UPDATE 10:23 a.m.
Immigration top of mind
Shade Olla cast her vote for Kamala Harris downtown at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Olla, 36, said immigration was one of the top issues that drew her to the polls. Both of her parents are from Nigeria, and she paid close attention to the rhetoric about immigrants during this election cycle — including former President Donald Trump calling the U.S. an “occupied country.”
Olla said voting isn’t something she takes for granted, considering her mother lived in the U.S. for decades before becoming a citizen.
“It’s just always been something that’s important to me,” she said after casting her ballot.
UPDATE 10:12 a.m.
Long lines on the south side
Haidee Jones, 29, carried her young child in a baby carrier as she waited outside of Southport Christian Church.
Married to a lawyer, Jones is excited to vote for the judges on her ballot. She arrived at the church at 6:15 a.m., and by 7:20 a.m., expected to be in line for at least another hour.
Darryl Swartzlender, 65, held his opinions close to his biker vest as he took a smoke break at the end of the line in the church parking lot. While he didn’t want to talk about his views on policy, he wants to implore Hoosiers to make their voice heard.
“I believe it’s our duty and responsibility as Americans to vote, no matter who you’re voting for,” Swartzlender said. “My opinion is my opinion, and somebody else’s opinion is their opinion. We don’t always agree, but it’s our right to have our own opinion and it’s our duty to vote.”
Mayor Jim Cooney, who serves as a precinct committee person in Southport, said he was excited to see a long line in the church’s parking lot.
“If people don’t vote, they don’t have a right to complain,” Cooney said.
He said he would like to see Election Day recognized as a holiday to give people more flexibility to vote, despite long lines.
Not up for reelection himself, Cooney spoke with voters on behalf of Republicans Cyndi Carrasco and Julie McGuire, who are running for State Senate and the House, respectively.
UPDATE 9:46 a.m.
‘My people suffered to get the right to vote’
Paula Shields felt the weight of history as she stood in line to vote at the MLK Center.
The 58-year-old from Butler-Tarkington remembered her grandfather, who lived through segregation and the Civil Rights Movement.
“My people suffered to get the right to vote,” Shields said. “I would be over the moon if the first Black woman president is elected.”
After casting her ballot, she will go home and clock into work as a staff accountant. Her TV will provide background noise as she switches between election news and Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel.
“It’s going to be hard to sleep tonight,” she said.
UPDATE 9:21 a.m.
Voting for her daughters’ future
Carissa Hawkins is voting for her daughters.
The 43-year-old from the north side had tears in her eyes as she lined up at the MLK Center.
“Their future is more important to me than anything in the whole world,” Hawkins said. “To think they have less rights as teens than I did is just unbearable.”
Abortion rights are a top issue. So is character and decency, she said, along with representation.
She recalled snapping a photo the night Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris as his running mate. In it, her husband sits on the edge of their bed, crying.
“This woman looks like our children,” he said. “She looks like our girls.”
Tonight, they will cook steak and pop champagne. They hope to wake up and tell their daughters the United States elected its first female president, a woman of Black and South Asian heritage.
UPDATE 9:12 a.m.
Westsiders vote at Rhodius Park
Early mornings at the Rhodius Park Family Center polling place are for voters who feel it is their responsibility as citizens to cast their ballots.
West Indianapolis resident Glen Prater, 64, has voted in every election since he was 18. He had no issues at his closest polling place, the Rhodius Park Family Center. He knew what traits he wanted the next U.S. president to have.
“Strength, fair-handedness,” he said. “I think everyone needs to be treated fairly. Age, religion, creed, nationality — it doesn’t matter.”
Prater wasn’t a fan of the choices for president, but he ultimately chose former President Donald Trump.
“Got to pick from what’s there,” he said. “I feel that this country needs a change.”
Another early riser at Rhodius was Debra Grider, 59. Grider woke up and immediately went to vote. She said she wanted a president who could keep other countries in check.
“I’m looking for somebody strong that could run our country, keep our freedoms and be able to stand against other countries rising up,” Grider said. “That is scary for people. We have to protect our military.”
Grider owns rental properties on the west side and said she has never missed an election since she was 18. She encourages everyone to vote, no matter who they support.
“Whoever they choose is their right,” she said. “I don’t condemn anybody for their choices, but, I would say, in order to keep our freedom, people need to let their voice be heard, no matter which candidates they vote for.”
UPDATE 8:59 a.m.
Voting on reproductive rights
On the east side, a line was starting to wrap around the Warren Township Government Center a little over two hours after polls first opened.
Wanamaker resident Reagan Lowry, 25, chose this location because it was halfway between where she lives and where her boyfriend lives on the far east side.
Lowry votes in every election, but said this is an important one. She believes there is a lot of tension in the country around social issues, including reproductive rights.
“I think it is very important for all of us to use our voices and just be heard,” Lowry said. “And it could be the first woman president, that is really exciting.”
UPDATE 8:36 a.m.
Wait times vary at Indy vote centers
Reports from polling places showed a variety of wait times in the first few hours of voting. The crowdsourced project Indy Vote Times showed wait times as little as one minute to nearly two hours at one location.
Here’s what some voters and Mirror Indy reporters are seeing:
Roughly 45 minutes after polls opened, lines at Southport Christian Church stretched into the parking lot, according to Mirror Indy reporter Breanna Cooper.
An X user named Toby said the line at Beech Grove Middle School wrapped around the side of the building around 6 a.m.
Mirror Indy reporter Emily Hopkins faced no line at Mt. Olive Baptist Church on 16th Street around 7:30 a.m.
Another X user reported more than 1,500 people in line at the Franklin Township Government Center around 6 a.m.
UPDATE 6 a.m.
Polls are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Here’s how to vote.
On Election Day in Marion County, registered voters can vote in any of these 186 vote centers. All voting centers are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.
You can check what’s on your ballot with Indiana Citizen’s virtual ballot and learn more about races in Indiana using our voter guide. If you want to see who’s running for school boards in Marion County, we’ve got a guide for that, too.
When you walk into a polling place, you will go through seven steps:
- Present your ID to a poll worker.
- The poll worker will make sure your ID matches your registration.
- They will hand you a blank ballot.
- You will take that ballot, put it into a voting machine and make your choices.
- Print your ballot, and check that it’s correct.
- Feed it into the machine that counts ballots.
- Get your “I voted!” sticker!
Don’t forget your ID: You must have a federal or state-issued ID with you to vote. Some options that work are an Indiana driver’s license, military ID, U.S. passport and Indiana photo ID.
If you don’t have an ID, you can get a free state-issued ID at the BMV for voting. Branches will be open until 8 p.m. Nov. 4 and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
If you forget your ID, you can ask to vote with a provisional ballot. Then, you’ll have to bring your ID to the election board by noon within 10 days of the election or prove one of the law’s exemptions applies to you.
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