Citizens must register to vote by the end of the Monday, Oct. 7, to vote in the November election. To register or check voter registration status, visit indianavoters.in.gov.
Local Elections
There is only one contested race at the county level, where incuments Vicki Andrews, Scott Elzey and Seth Whicker, all Republicans, are challenged by Scott Burke (I) and Brian Hollingsworth (D). A “Meet the Candidate” forum for the race will be 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Wells County Chamber of Commerce, 211 Water St. in Bluffton.
There are two contested races in Wells County school boards.
For Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan Schools, Peter (Chris) Koiner challenges incumbent Trent White for the board’s District 3 seat.
Cathie Peterson and Jeremiah Tomlin are both running for the open Lancaster Township seat on the board of trustees for Norwell Community Schools. Todd Nash is unopposed for the Jefferson Township seat. All candidates are expected to share their views in a forum, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Norwell High School auditorium.
Voter Information
Early voting begins on Oct. 8 at the Wells County Clerk’s Office, and is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 1, as well as 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 4. Absentee or early voting is also available 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 at the Clerk’s Office, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 at Presbyterian Church, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 28 and 29 at the Wells County 4-H Park, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Lighted Gardens.
Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the Wells County Clerk’s Office by Oct. 24.
Election Day voting will be available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the 4-H Park, Presbyterian Church, Lighted Gardens, Zanesville Tower Life Center and Southern Wells Community Church.
Ballot Information
County
• Commissioner, District 2: Blake Gerber (R).
• Commissioner, District 3: Jeff Stringer (R).
• Coroner: Cliff Thomas (R).
• Council, 3 At-Large: Vicki Andrews (R), Scott Burke (I), Scott Elzey (R), Brian Hollingsworth (D) and Seth Whicker (R).
• Recorder: Rina Stuck (R).
• Surveyor: Jarrod Hahn (R).
• Treasurer: Pam Gregory (R).
• Circuit Court Judge: Kenton Kiracofe (R)
School Boards
• Bluffton-Harrison MSD, At-Large: Preston Kaehr.
• Bluffton-Harrison MSD, District 3: Peter (Chris) Koiner and Trent White.
• Norwell, Jefferson Township: Todd Nash.
• Norwell, Lancaster Township: Cathie Peterson and Jeremiah Tomlin.
• Southern Wells, Jackson Township: Greggory Vanover.
• Southern Wells, Nottingham Township: Todd Fiechter.
State
• State Representative, District 50: Lorissa Sweet (R) and Joseph Swisher (D).
• State Representative, District 79: Matt Lehman (R).
• U.S. Representative: Kiley Adolph (D), Jarrad Lancaster (L) and Marlin Stutzman (R).
• U.S. Senator: Jim Banks (R), Andrew Homing (L) and Valerie McCray (D).
• Attorney General: Todd Rokita (R) and Destiny Wells (D).
• Governor: Mike Braun (R), Jennifer McCormick (D) and Donald Rainwater (L).
National
• President: Kamala Harris (D), Robert Kennedy (WTP) and Donald Trump (R).
Public Questions
• Public Question #1: Shall the constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to remove the state superintendent of public instruction from the list of officeholders who shall discharge the powers and duties of the governor if the office of the governor and lieutenant governor are both vacant?
• Retention of Justice of the Supreme Court of Indiana: Shall Justice Mark S. Massa be retained in office?
• Retention of the Justice of the Supreme Court of Indiana: Shall Justice Derek Read Molter be retained in office?
• Retention of Justice in the Supreme Court of Indiana: Shall Justice Loretta H. Rush be retained in office?
• Court of Appeals Judicial Retention – Fourth District: Shall Judge Rudolph Reginald Pyle III be retained in office?
