Voters turned out in droves Tuesday morning to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting in Indiana.
In Lake County, Sheila Stewart was the first person to vote shortly after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the first day of early voting in the general election, at the Lake County Government Center.
“I wanted to do it before that line,” said Stewart, who works at the government center. “I figured there was going to be a line.”
As the polling place was being set up, about 30 people were already waiting in line to cast their ballots. Throughout the morning, the line remained long, wrapping around a corner of a nearby hallway.
It’s important to her that she votes, Stewart said, because it’s a right that was hard fought for. Stewart said the voting process was simple, and she encouraged everyone to make a plan to vote.
“The earlier the better,” Stewart said.
Lake County Board of Elections and Registration Director Michelle Fajman said she was very pleased to see a line of voters waiting to cast their ballots.
“A first day hasn’t been like this in a long time,” Fajman said.
Tommy and Joan Brewer, of Crown Point, said they arrived for early voting, which is their standard voting plan, at 8:30 a.m. and were surprised there was a line.
Typically, Joan Brewer said, they are the first two people to cast a ballot at the start of early voting, with two people in line behind them. On Tuesday, they were ninth and tenth in line, she said.
“This line here is a monster line. It’s way more than last time,” Joan Brewer said.
Tommy Brewer, a U.S. Army veteran, said he supports candidates who support Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war.
“I vote for the candidate with the record,” he said.
Joan Brewer said all registered voters should cast a ballot because every vote makes a difference, and a vote represents a voter’s voice. Tommy Brewer said voters should make a plan to vote early.
Jonah Peterson, of Crown Point, said the general election will be his first time voting. He decided to cast a ballot Tuesday before he headed back to Purdue University on the final day of fall break.
Peterson said he has an exam scheduled on Election Day, so he was glad he could cast his ballot early.
“I’m excited to be doing my civic duty,” he said.
Peterson said he’s voting for the candidate that would represent all Americans.
“I just think a lot of a certain candidate is mundane and full of outdated ideas,” he said.
After voting, Jonah Peterson said it was easy, but he was surprised by the 90s-style machines used to vote.
“It’s the first time I’ve practiced my right and had my say. We’ll see what happens,” Peterson said.
Jennifer Peterson, of Crown Point, said her plan was to early vote since she will have a busy work day on Election Day. Jennifer Peterson said she was voting to protect the rights of people that society perceives as different.
“I’m not going back. I’m voting for hope and change,” Jennifer Peterson said. “Even if you live in a state that leans in one direction and you lean in the other, it’s still important to have your voice heard.”
Katie Martinez, of Highland, voted Tuesday at the Wicker Park Breezeway and took her 3-year-old daughter with her. Martinez said it was a powerful moment to vote for a woman who could be elected president with her daughter by her side.
“I hope it happens in her lifetime,” Martinez said. “I’m excited about the candidate, so I was excited to get my vote across.”
Martinez said women’s rights was the most important issue to her. Rodney Farrell, of Griffith, said he agreed, and added that he was against Project 2025, a 900-page policy plan released by conservative thinktank The Heritage Foundation that would expand presidential power and impose ultra-conservative social policies. Trump has denied that it’s connected to his campaign but the group that created the project includes many former Trump advisers.
“We’re in a pivotal moment in our country, so people should get out and vote,” Farrell said.
Michael Hamlin, of Highland, said he decided to participate in early voting because he works a swing shift so it’s convenient. He said he would vote for Republican candidate Donald Trump because he’s the candidate “who’s best for us.”
Hamlin said his father served in the military and always taught him to exercise his right to vote, which was a hard-fought right, he said.
“He fought for our right to vote, so get out and vote,” Hamlin said.
Porter County
The line at lunchtime on the first day of early voting was getting heated at the Porter County Administration Building Tuesday, but not due to any political strife.
The friendly, patient crowd of unprecedented numbers had about an hour-long wait in a glass-walled hallway that felt like a greenhouse outside the small vote center at the end of the hall.
Without talk of political persuasion, everyone seemed on the same page with their election topics of concern: the economy and inflation, immigration and the border. While the crowd that took over the basement had plenty of folks who always vote early, the numbers were amplified by those worried Election Day lines would be even longer and those voting early for the first time because of a sense of urgency this cycle.
In a presidential race that pollsters continue to call so close as to be within the margin of error, Kevin Foster, of Valparaiso, said he was voting early for the first time “so that there would be a better get-out-the-vote effort closer to the election.” He said he didn’t regret coming early despite the long wait. He made friends with fellow Valparaiso voter Mary Lou Dale who always votes early and said the long line had the benefit of giving “a chance with your fellow Indiana people.”
Behind them, three generations of the Pursell family, Janna and Jack Pursell of Valparaiso, their daughter Amber O’Brien of Morgan Township, and her two college-age children, Quinn and Emma O’Brien, were staying put no matter how slowly the line moved.
“Some people have left already,” Janna Pursell said. “We would have, but it’s our grandson’s first time voting.”
“I’m not really into politics,” Purdue University senior Emma O’Brien said, “but my grandpa motivated me to watch the debates.” She’s most concerned about the economy “because I grocery shop for myself and I don’t feel like food should cost as much as it does.” She’s also concerned about the cost of housing.
Her brother Quinn, a sophomore at Purdue, is concerned about the economy and “the border situation,” echoing his grandfather’s concerns. The Purcells looked pretty pleased to be waiting in line with their daughter and grandchildren.
“I think they’re going to be more effective than we are,” Janna said, gesturing toward her grandkids. “We’re where we’re at. These two have a future.”
Falling in age somewhere between these grandparents and grandkids was Benjamin Kesting, of Valparaiso, who felt his work as a voter had never been more important.
“I just had a feeling that Nov. 5th would be very long lines,” he said of his decision to vote early. “All elections are important, but I feel this election is most important, maybe the most important I’ve voted in.”
While he had been at the table showing his ID to the election judges another voter had asked them, “Is it usually this busy?”
“No,” replied election judge Jennifer Gervase, of Valparaiso. “I think it’s wonderful. To me, it means people care.”
Outside the room where votes are cast, husband and wife Donald and Victoria Hill sat on a bench waiting their turn. They typically vote early and say they were at the Administration Building four years ago for the last presidential election. “I expected a crowd,” Victoria Hill said. “This is definitely bigger.”
She said she was impressed by a report she just read saying that 90% of eligible Hoosiers were registered to vote. Second-generation American Beatrice Salinas-Sievers, of Valparaiso, said her father stressed supporting democracy by voting.
She typically votes early and said she’d be in line however long it took. Four years ago she waited two hours to vote in Indianapolis.
Salinas-Sievers isn’t concerned about any particular issues. “Everyone’s talking about it being rigged,” she said of the presidential race. “I just disregard all that. It’s just hearsay.”
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Early voting information
Early voting goes through the Monday before Election Day with 11 polling locations in Lake County and seven polling locations in Porter County.
In Porter County, the early voting locations are:
The Porter County Administrative Building, 155 Indiana Avenue Suite 102A in Valparaiso
NIRPC Building, 6100 Southport Road in Portage
Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Avenue in Valparaiso
North County Complex, New Building, 3560 Willowcreek Road in Portage
Union Township Fire Station #2, 267 N 600 W, Valparaiso
Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus, 651 W. Morgan Avenue in Chesterton
Hebron Community Center, 611 N. Main Street in Hebron
Porter County voters can cast their ballots from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays or 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Voters can also cast their ballots from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the last two Saturdays before Election Day and from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. the Monday before Election Day.
Porter County will also offer mobile voting:
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Kouts Public Library, 101 E. Daumer Road in Kouts
4 pm. To 7 p.m. Thursdays at Lukes Gas Station, 6259 Melton Road in Portage
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at Jamestown, 2810 Winchester Drive in Valparaiso
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 2 at South Haven Public Library, 403 W. 700 N in Valparaiso
In Lake County, the early voting locations are:
Lake County Board of Elections & Registration Office, 2293 N. Main Street Room A-205 in Crown Point.
East Chicago County Courthouse, 3711 Main Street in East Chicago
Gary Public Library and Cultural Center, 220 W. 5th Avenue in Gary
Hammond County Courthouse, 232 Russell Street in Hammond
Hobart Police Department, 705 E. 4th Street in Hobart
Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main Street in Lowell
Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road in Munster
Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet Street in Schererville
St. John Township Assessor’s Office, 9157 Wicker Avenue in St. John
Wicker Park Breezeway, 8554 Indianapolis Boulevard in Highland
Winfield Government Center, 10645 Randolph Street in Crown Point
For early voting at the Lake County election office, voters can cast their ballots Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours Thursday until 7 p.m. Voters can go to that location the two Saturdays before Election Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the Monday before Election Day from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
At the other 10 Lake County early voting locations, voters can cast their ballots from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with extended hours Thursday until 7 p.m. Those polling locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the two Saturdays before Election Day and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. the Monday before Election Day.
All Lake County early voting locations will be closed Oct. 14 for Columbus Day.
Nonpartisan voter guide available
The 2024 VOTE411.org nonpartisan voter guide is now available 24/7 online, according to a release from the League of Women Voters of Porter County. The resource offers a “one-stop shop” for election information, providing tools to assist voters navigate the voting process from voter registration to learning about candidates on their ballots and finding polling places.
VOTE411 is a nationwide voter education effort, according to the release.
