Monroe County, Indiana, primary election live updates, results

Final results are in. Click here for the results.

5:40 p.m.: The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship sees slow day as polls close

Poll workers at the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship on South Patterson Drive had logged less than 150 voters as the final hour of voting wound down.

Tracy Gates, a Bloomington resident and co-owner of the Inkwell Cafe, said she thought the end of the IU and MCCSC school year could make it difficult for Bloomington residents to find time to vote.

"It's just kind of an awkward time for an election," Gates said. "People in Bloomington are so busy. You're still having to take your kids everywhere because they're still in school."

Lindsay Gill, a Bloomington resident and IU graduate student, said homelessness and affordable housing were the key issues that motivated her to vote.

"I'm really just paying attention to human rights," Gill said. "I'm paying attention to making sure everyone's needs are taken care of."

Keith Weaver, a Bloomington resident of two decades, said he believed Mayor Kerry Thompson was doing good work in addressing local homelessness issues, and he hopes to elect candidates who continue that momentum.

"I know it doesn't happen overnight," Weaver said. "But I can see the changes."

David Wierhake, a Bloomington resident, said voting in the primary election was especially important in a Republican state.

"Indiana's a Republican state, so you want to field the best candidate," Wierhake said.

5:20 p.m. update: Eastview Church has more than 600 voters

Bloomington Eastview Church of the Nazarene on East Lampkins Ridge Road had more than 600 people show up to vote, according to an email update from Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne.

She said by 4 p.m. Monroe County had about a 13.4% turnout for the primary election with 7,571 people voting today. A total of 12,284 voters have cast a ballot by 4 p.m., Browne said.

3:30 p.m. update: Voting in Ellettsville steady, not heavy

Howard Cross, the election inspector at Ellettsville Christian Church, said at about 2:30 p.m. that a “couple hundred” voters had come to the polling site.

“It’s been steady, not heavy,” he said.

At the time, two people were casting ballots, and three voters had just left the polling site.

First-time voter Callie Winzeler, 18, a senior at Edgewood High School, said she voted because she had always wanted to, and, pointing at her mother, Gena Winzeler, said, “because of her.”

Callie Winzeler, who voted in the Republican Party primary, said her first-time voting experience was “kinda boring.”

“I was expecting more,” she said.

Gena Winzeler said she, too, voted in the Republican Party primary.

“In general, our country needs to change,” she said.

Gena Winzeler said issues that primarily concerned her include homelessness in Bloomington, job security and inflation.

She said there were few candidates she felt strongly about, but said more people should vote.

“I just think it’s important to come out to every election,” she said.

A few voters at the site shook hands with Joe VanDeventer, who stood on a sidewalk next to the church to hold up his sign. VanDeventer is running for commissioner on the Republican ticket. He said he had been at the site since noon, and had seen steady traffic.

Theresa Begley came to vote primarily in the county commissioner races, as she believes a lot of local issues appear to be at a stalemate, and the county needs some change.

Begley voted on the Democratic ticket and said she was particularly worried about housing affordability and availability for local employees, many of whom are living outside of the county.

The lack of starter homes, too, is concerning, she said. Two of her three children live in Bloomington and have first-hand experience with the tough local housing market.

Begley, who has lived in Ellettsville for 35 years, said she recalled that local builder Tom Wininger planned to build homes in the $250,000 range in Monroe County, but commissioners rejected his proposal as too dense. Wininger instead built similar homes in Greene County.

That’s the type of housing people need in Monroe County, Begley said.

Al Norris, 86, of Ellettsville, said he came to vote primarily because of national issues, including the economy, foreign policy and border security.

1:30 p.m.: Election Day voting surpasses early voting totals

This afternoon, Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne reported more people have now voted on Election Day than participated in early voting.

Browne said 4,917 people had voted today compared to 4,713 people who voted in the weeks leading up to the primary.

Noon: A little rain doesn't stop this voter

Dawn Smith set off in the rain to cast her ballot at the Family Life Center about 10:30 Tuesday morning.

Rain or shine, she aways votes.

“Every election,” the 69-year-old Washington Township resident proclaimed. “We need to keep our freedoms and democracy. I do hope good, true Americans will come out and vote.”

She scanned the church parking lot and saw just a few vehicles. Inside, poll workers outnumbered voters 8 to 7. The rain may have kept people away, but a voter rush was expected between 4 and 6 p.m.

By 11 Tuesday morning, Smith was among the 181 of the 2,830 registered voters in Washington Township and Bloomington Townships Precinct 12 – 6% — who had come through the door to cast ballots.

Voting has always been important to me,” the retired Army veteran said. “It’s part of being an American.”

“We need to have control,” Smith said. “Control of our right to vote, our right to have an opinion."

10:45 a.m.: Turnout ticks up for Monroe County primary

At 10 a.m., 8% of registered Monroe County voters had participated in this year's primary election.

Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne reports Eastview Church of the Nazarene and St. John's Catholic Church have had the highest turnout, and three voters cast ballots at the Indiana Memorial Union.

9:30 a.m.: Voters trickling into polling sites

As of 9 a.m. this morning, 1,685 people had visited their polling location to cast a ballot in this year's Primary Election. Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne reported between in-person election day voting and absentee voting, 7% of Monroe County's registered voters have participated.

Browne reported just under 1,387 voters requested mailed ballots and of those, 252 remained outstanding. Mailed ballots may also be returned in person today by either the voter or a member of their household to Election Central, 401 W. Seventh St., by 6 p.m.

8:30 a.m.: Slow start to Election Day across the county

As of 8 a.m. this morning, 876 people had cast ballots in today's Primary Election, according to an update provided by Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne.

The busiest sites were Grandview Elementary School and St. John's Baptist Church. Few voters had made it to the Burgoon polling location, with just four votes cast today, and the Indiana Memorial Union, where no one had voted.

Light turnout when polls open at 6 a.m. at Bloomington South

Only one person was waiting when the doors opened at 6 a.m. for the five precincts that vote at Bloomington High School South on Tuesday. According to inspector Kurt Seiffert, the South voting site is the second largest in Monroe County for this primary election and there are usually between one and five people waiting for primary elections. By 6:15 a.m. four votes had been cast.

For this election, there are changes to where voters enter the high school. This time the doors for the gym closest to Frank Southern Ice Arena are open.

For county residents who vote at the high school, this will be their first time in the White Gym. Previously voters entered near the cafeteria area closest to Walnut Street. City residents voted in the gym for the November 2023 elections, which only had city races on the ballot.

"We didn't move addresses but we shifted locations," explained Seiffert, who has worked at polling stations in Monroe County for the past 30 years.

Seiffert said the changes have been good, providing more control of the location and a better layout for poll workers.

"The clerk's office continues to improve things every year," Seiffert said, stating that instructions to poll workers were streamlined for this election. He views the primary election as a good "practice run" for the upcoming general election, which he anticipates will draw many more voters.

For Tuesday's election, Seiffert's "wild guess" at how many county residents will vote at BHSS is about 800. That's a normal number for a primary election, he said.

He's also watching for poll watchers and challengers, something all polling sites were told to expect for this election. Poll watchers can observe the clerks as they check in voters. They are not allowed to challenge what they see but can alert a challenger who can make an official challenge. It's something Seiffert said he's never had to process.

"I have seen poll watchers," Seiffert said, but it was one time and was before the 2016 election.

Monroe County Primary Election: What to know before you go

Find your polling location and check your registration status at indianavoters.in.gov.

Remember to bring your ID with you. Find acceptable forms of ID on the Secretary of State's website.

The Herald-Times asked candidates in each contested local race questions about themselves and their vision for Monroe County.

Commissioner, district 2: Peter Iverson vs. Julie Thomas

Commissioner, district 3 (Democrats): Penny Githens, Jody Madeira, Steve Volan

Commissioner, district 3 (Republicans): Joe VanDeventer vs. Paul White Sr.

Council, at-large: Matt Caldie, Trent Deckard, David Henry, Cheryl Munson

State and Congressional races also on the ballot in Monroe County

The 9th Congressional District seat in the House of Representatives is up for re-election. Current incumbent, Republican Erin Houchin, faces a challenge from Hugh Doty. Houchin, who lives in Salem, took office in 2023. Voters can review her Congressional record here. Hugh Doty, of Sellersburg, is running on an "America First" platform.

Those pulling a Democratic primary ballot will choose between D. Liam Dorris, a self-described Democratic Socialist from Bloomington, and Timothy Peck, a doctor and businessman who lives in New Washington.

Other offices appearing on the primary ballot include president, U.S. senator, governor and uncontested races and party convention delegates.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: live updates monroe County indiana primary election results