November 8, 2022

Election Day in Indianapolis: Live updates from the polls

WFYI News
Voters walk into the Broad Ripple High School building on Tuesday morning. - Elizabeth Gabriel/WFYI

Voters walk into the Broad Ripple High School building on Tuesday morning.

Elizabeth Gabriel/WFYI

5 p.m.
 

With an hour before polls close in Indianapolis, voters made their way to polling places like the Ivy Tech Culinary Center.

Voter Billy Hall said he is particularly passionate about the Marion County prosecutor race. Republican candidate Cyndi Carrasco faces incumbent Democrat Ryan Mears. Hall said he voted for Mears because he supports Mears’ decision to not file charges for simple marijuana possession.

“I care about that and keeping someone in office who prioritizes progressive public policies,” Hall said.

Poll workers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse said there haven’t been lines to vote.

Meanwhile, at the Indianapolis Fire Dept Station 3 in Fountain Square, volunteers said more than 1,000 people have voted – a much higher turnout than in previous elections.

At West Lafayette city hall, some voters waited in line for 45 minutes to cast a ballot.

Nicole Hands said she’s voting because democracy feels threatened. She said after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it feels like a “dangerous time” for democracy.

4 p.m.
 

Angelia Moore, who is running uncontested for an at-large seat on the Indianapolis Public Schools board of school commissioners, said the election should be important to everyone.

“Knowing that there’s so many changes that are going to happen or need to happen, being a part of the process and making sure that all of the voices [are] heard is essential to what we need to do,” Moore said outside Crossroads AME Church.

At the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, poll worker Harrison Page said more than 600 people have voted.

“Everything's been running smooth,” Page said. “A beautiful thing.”

Kendra Stout said voting was easy at Benjamin Harrison. Stout said a lot of voters are thinking about reproductive rights today. Midterm elections are particularly important, Stout said, as they involve local offices.

“You sign up for it, you do it, it’s part of our responsibility as citizens,” Stout said. “I guess it gives us a little bit more say, especially in a midterm election.”

In Johnson County at Clark Pleasant Library, patrons waiting in line picked up books to read before voting.

Election Inspector Damien Katt said long lines have been steady all day long. They had one machine stop working, but started again after it was rebooted.

"It's been (a) really good turnout," Katt said.

 

3 p.m.
 

Younger voters have also headed to the polls to cast their ballots. Purdue University senior Sydney Ralston said she voted at West Lafayette City Hall to protect her rights.

“It’s been a big year, as a woman,” Ralston said.

 

2 p.m.

Polls are open until 6 p.m. local prevailing time. The Associated Press tallies votes and declares winners when “it’s certain that the candidate who's ahead in the count can't be caught.”

The AP expects to tabulate and declare winners in 87 contested elections in Indiana.

“Expect some close races not to be called on election night, and they will be reviewed the following morning when more votes are tabulated,” the AP reported. “For those races that are still too close to call, the winner will be determined after the county canvass is completed on Nov. 25.”

 

1 p.m.

Kristen Phair, District 3 candidate for the Indianapolis Public Schools board of school commissioners, said she’ll spend her Election Day stopping at voting centers across the city.

During a stop at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Phair said this election is important to her because she’s invested in taking care of teachers so they can support students.

“I have been volunteering in the schools for the last year and seeing how our teachers are rising to the occasion of educating our students in a post-COVID world where our teachers are also often under-resourced and we have major staffing shortages,” Phair said.

School board races in more suburban parts of Indiana have become battlegrounds over so-called parental rights platforms. And claims that schools are teaching students critical race theory — a theoretical framework that’s been conflated with diversity, equity and inclusion efforts — and promoting LGBTQ identities have become a common theme in school board races nationwide.

Noon
 

Voter turnout is steady and as expected, said Brienne Delaney, director of the Marion County Board of Elections.

“Early voting we saw about three-fourths of the same turnout that we had in 2018,” Delaney said. “We’re really expecting turnout to kind of mirror that today on Election Day.”

More than 600,000 people voted early in-person in the last midterm, 2018. As of late last week, this year’s turnout was less than 400,000.

Delaney said typical Election Day snags like poll workers not showing up and machine malfunctions have happened, but there are plans in place to address those kinds of issues.

 

11 a.m.
 

Looking for a ride to a voting center? IndyGo is providing free rides today until 10 p.m.

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles has also extended its hours for Election Day to issue ID cards and driver’s licenses for Hoosiers that need them for identification at polling places. Branches will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you don't have an ID when you go to vote, you can still cast a provisional ballot. For your vote to count, you must follow up with your county election board by noon, 10 days after Election Day and provide the necessary identification.

 

10 a.m.

There were a few hiccups at St. Luke’s United Methodist church Tuesday morning, but inspector Juliette Boyd said problems were resolved quickly. 

“Our machine where all of our ballots go in has jammed a few times,” Boyd said. 

 

Voters can check waiting times at Marion County voting centers at indyvotetimes.org.

At the Municipal Gardens Family Center, Indianapolis Public Schools board of school commissioners candidate Nicole Carey talked with voters about the importance of school board members. 

“I feel really called to serve my community,” said Carey, who is running uncontested for the District 5 seat, which includes the northwest part of the district. “So without all the other political noise in the background, I’m just in a particular place where I think it’s important for me to be able to serve in a capacity to be able to elevate the community voice.”

 

9 a.m.
 

Indianapolis Public Schools board of school commissioners candidate Hope Hampton stood outside the Broad Ripple High School building Tuesday morning to talk with voters.

Hampton is running for the only contested seat on the IPS board. Four candidates are vying for three open seats.

“For me, it’s a social justice issue,” Hampton said. “I grew up in this community and I realized the impact of children who are really missing the mark or not being able to compete as it relates to this achievement gap is related to my own community. I was that child.”

8 a.m.
 

John Bennett was one of a handful of people who voted early Tuesday morning at Warren Central High School. Bennett lives close by and it was easy to get to that voting center, he said. Marion County residents can vote until 6 p.m. at any of the county’s voting centers.

Bennett said the economy, specifically inflation, influenced his vote.

“We need somebody who can have some common sense about the economy and put it back in order,” he said.  

Johnnye Burrell is a nurse and said a lot is at stake at this election.

"A big issue on the table is abortion,” Burrell said. “I have a lot of patients that come to me in desperate situations."

Andy Raymond said he votes in every election, but he felt like few people were out casting a ballot early Tuesday morning.

"Voting is one of our most basic rights, yet I think it's the right that maybe we take most for granted here,” he said. “There are so many people in so many other places that are literally giving up their life for the right to do this."

7 a.m.
 

About 20 people were waiting outside to vote at Lawrence North High School as polls opened Tuesday morning.

Shannon Feyka said she's voting because she wants to have the right to make choices about her body. Earlier this year, Indiana lawmakers passed a near-total abortion ban that is on hold while the law is challenged in court.

"Our rights are being challenged,” she said. “Like, it's not fine."

Tim Long said he voted because he wants a change in leadership. In Marion County, the assessor, auditor, prosecuting attorney, recorder, sheriff and clerk are up for election.

"I am tired of the way our county is being operated,” he said.

6 a.m.


Polls are open for the 2022 midterm election. Marion County residents can vote between now and 6 p.m. at any of the county’s voting centers, which can be found at vote.indy.gov.

You will need to bring a valid form of photo identification, which could include an Indiana driver’s license, a U.S. passport, Indiana State Identification Card, military ID or some public college student IDs. For more information, read this Election Day guide from Indiana Public Broadcasting.

To see your sample ballot, visit the Indiana voter portal at indianavoters.in.gov.

In Marion County, six local government positions are up for election: assessor, auditor, prosecuting attorney, recorder, sheriff and clerk. Click on the links to learn more about those races.

Three statewide offices are also up for election: secretary of state, auditor and treasurer.

All 100 Indiana House seats and half of the 50 Indiana Senate seats are up for election. Click the links to learn more about the Central Indiana House and Senate races.

Across Marion County, 47 candidates are on ballots for 29 positions on school boards. Learn more about the candidates for these non-partisan races.

The federal Indiana Senate seat currently held by Todd Young is also up for election. Young, a Republican, is challenged by Democrat Tom McDermott, and libertarian James Sceniak.

Click here for more information about federal U.S. House of Representatives races in your district.

WFYI reporters will be providing live coverage from the polls all day, and this post will be updated. Follow @WFYINews on Twitter for election results this evening. And tune in to WFYI on the radio, TV and Facebook Live for election night coverage from Indiana Public Broadcasting reporters. 

Lauren Bavis, Darian Benson, Elizabeth Gabriel and Ben Thorp contributed to this post.

Tags:2022 electionvoting
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