Early Voting Underway For Primary Election

Here's a recap of the local races worth paying attention to.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Tuesday is the first day you can cast a ballot for the 2018 primary elections in Indiana and Ohio.

Monday, April 9 was the deadline to submit or update your voter registration in each state in time for the May 8 election.

In-person early voting is being held at your local county courthouse or board of election. In Indiana, voters must show a government-issued ID before being given a ballot.

Republican voters in Indiana get to select either Todd Rokita, Luke Messer, or Mike Braun to be the nominee to challenge Democratic incumbent Senator Joe Donnelly in November’s general election.

There are also several candidates running on both the Democratic and Republican tickets for Indiana’s next sixth district congressman. Rising Sun attorney Lane Siekman is among six candidates hoping to become the Democratic nominee in the sixth district. On the GOP side, Greg Pence, brother of Vice President Mike Pence, is among seven candidates on the ballot, along with Mike Campbell, Thomas G. Ferkinhoff, Bill Frazier, Jonathan Lamb, Stephen MacKenzie, and Jeff Smith.

Dearborn County Republican voters get to choose either Shane McHenry or Brad Schwing as the nominee for Sheriff. The only other contested races in Dearborn County are the Republican County Council District 3 race between Ryan Brandt and Kevin Turner, and the recorder’s race between Republicans Vickie Hon and Joyce Oles. There are no contested Democratic races in Dearborn County, and no Democratic candidate has filed to run for sheriff this year.

Franklin County Republican voters will have a couple choices to make. Jerry Wendel and Eric Roberts are running for the party nomination for County Commissioner in District 1. Peter Cates and John Roberts, Jr. face off for the Republican nomination for county sheriff. The county assessor’s race on the GOP ballot pits Cheryl Campbell against Brenda Eckerle. Brian Baxter and Brian Kelley Bischoff are the two candidates for the Republican nomination for county recorder.

Ripley County’s only contested race is on the Republican ballot, where Rob Seig and Patricia Dephane Smith are opposed in the County Council District 2 contest.

In Switzerland County, three candidates want the Republican nomination for sheriff: Rod Chase, Brian Morton, and J.J. Sullivan. The winner will face uncontested Democrat Cory Hankins in November. Lance Collier and Aaron Cutter are opponents for the Republican nomination for County Council District 3 in the primary. Two contested races for Switzerland County Democrats to decide include the District 3 Commissioner race between Jack Asbury and Mark Lohide and District 4 County Council between Jeff Darling and Dusty Higgins.

There are no contested races for local office in Ohio County in the May 8 primary election.

In Ohio, voters are selecting their party’s nominee for governor and congress.

You can find more local races on our Indiana Votes 2018 webpage. Hoosiers can also find their voter registration status, early voting location, and polling location at www.IndianaVoters.com.