Early voting is underway in Indiana. Here's how turnout numbers compare to 2018
This story was updated with the recent early voting data as of Thursday.
Mark your calendars, Hoosiers: the Indiana primary election is May 3.
Early voting began in Indiana on April 5 and ends May 2. In Indiana, early voting is also classified as absentee "in person" voting. While you have to be approved to vote by mail — and it's too late to request a mail-in ballot — anyone can vote early in person. Both are included in early voting statistics.
While turnout for early voting is down this year in general, this is typical for non-presidential election years, Deputy Director of the Marion County Clerk's Office Russell Hollis said in an email to IndyStar.
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"There have been no technical problems or any problems during early voting," Hollis said in an email. "Things have been smooth."
As of Thursday, 123,370 ballots have been received statewide. This includes people who have already voted early and all absentee ballots that have been received by the county clerks' offices.
More: What to know about voting early in Central Indiana ahead of the 2022 primary election
In 2018, the last midterm election, 861,767 people voted total — around 20% of all of Indiana's registered voters. Absentee early voting made up 20% of the total of those who voted in the primary election, with 171,926 people voting early.
Here are some early voting turnout numbers broken down by county:
Marion County
As of Thursday, 8,466 ballots have been received by the county clerk's office, encompassing in-person voters and those who have submitted by mail.
In 2018, 16% of all registered voters in Indiana voted in the primary in Marion County. Of those, 8%, or 7,934, voted early in person or absentee by mail.
After the 19th day of in-person early voting on Wednesday, 4,281 people had voted early in-person in Marion County, according to data provided by Hollis. This is a higher turnout as compared to 2018, where only 2,637 people had voted early at the same point in time.
Higher turnout for 2022 early voting also extended to absentee by-mail ballots.
Hamilton County
As of Thursday, 4,338 ballots were received by the county clerk's office.
In 2018, 19% of total registered voters in Hamilton County turned out for the primary election. Of that number, just 14%, or 6,178 people, voted early.
Johnson County
As of Thursday, 2,696 ballots have been received by the county clerk's office.
In 2018, 18% of Johnson County's registered voters voted in the primary election. Early voters accounted for 25% of that total, with 4,549 people voting early.
Boone County
The number of ballots received by the county clerk's office numbers is 1,016 as of Thursday.
In 2018, 22%of Boone County's registered voting population turned out to vote. Of that total, 28%, or 2,885, people voted early.
Contact IndyStar trending reporter Claire Rafford at crafford@gannett.com or on Twitter @clairerafford.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana primary election 2022: Early voting is underway
