Live blog: Indiana's 2024 Primary Election

Primary Election Day is here!

Follow along throughout the day for updates from our newsroom. We'll have live election results on the homepage when they start coming in, after polls close at 6 p.m.

And if you have any questions about where and how to vote today, this article can help.

4:50 p.m.

Reporter Zak Cassel visited Beech Grove Middle School, where officials say 470 people had voted as of 4:30 p.m.

Precinct worker Kim Shepherd said it's been slow.

"Fairly slow, I mean it's, compared to last year we had lines, this year not so much," Shepherd said. "Last year I think we did right at 1,000 voters the whole day, we're maybe at 400, 500, 450."

4:05 p.m.

Here are the latest numbers out of Marion County, courtesy of the Marion County Election Board:

• In-person votes counted (4 p.m.): 52,547
• Mail-in absentee votes counted (4 p.m.): 4,367
• In-person early votes counted (4 p.m.): 11,934
• Total registered voters: 635,478

So far then, as of 4 p.m., Marion County has seen a 10.8 percent voter turnout.

Voter turnout rates in Indiana are among the lowest in the country — this story from the Indiana Capital Chronicle dives deep into who those voters are.

1:45 p.m.

By noon, nearly 200 people had voted at the nature center at Holiday Park on the north side.

Kelly Johnson is a first time poll worker and was taking a lunch break with her baby. She said she hopes more people are engaged this year.

"I think just getting younger people excited would be important, and that's what I'm a little bit worried about," Johnson said.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears was visiting polls and stopped by Holiday Park. He said this is an important election year.

"For someone who is fortunate enough to be in a position of elected leadership, I think the most important thing is making sure we have a smooth election process and that we provide as many people as possible the opportunity to vote," Mears said.

Ronald Gress cast his vote at Saint Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carmel. Hamilton County is voting for a candidate in U.S. House Congressional District 5 where there have been months of attack ads.

"I wish they could ban negative ads, just talk about what you're going to do," Gress said.
 

Polls are open until 6. Follow us for Election Day info. @WFYINews pic.twitter.com/IkzDRSJ8Si

— Jill Sheridan Poulos (@JillASheridan) May 7, 2024

12:50 p.m.

Something else to watch for when results come in — property tax referenda.

Pike Township Schools is asking voters to approve a tax increase in today's primary, joining three other Indiana school districts in doing so. The money would mostly support teacher pay and student academics, and some could go to local charter schools.

The primary comes during a time of increased tensions in Indianapolis between supporters of traditional school districts and advocates of school choice. Indianapolis Public Schools is locked in a court battle with the state over a law that requires districts to sell unused property to charter schools for $1, and another Indianapolis district opposed a charter school opening in its boundaries.

If Pike Township voters approve the increase, this would be the first time a charter school benefits from a referendum under a recent state law.
 

12:10 p.m.

Reporter Abriana Herron is out and about, interviewing voters — follow her @abri_onyai

Several people arrived at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site to cast their votes this morning. Indianapolis resident Victoria Babb said the rise in property taxes over the last few years is what brought her to the polls.

"Some of those taxes for the properties has increased so much that it's just not affordable for a lot of people, so that's a big concern of mine," Babb said.

Babb also encouraged others to vote.

"It does make a difference, even though we may not see it in our favor all the time, but it's better than not doing anything," Babb said.
 

I spoke with Indy resident Victoria Babb at the Benjamin Harrison Site about the reasons she came out to vote today. @WFYINews pic.twitter.com/ROU6V8YihR

— Abriana Onyai Herron ❤️ (@abri_onyai) May 7, 2024

11:30 a.m.

Another rare occurence today is an election happening for House District 95, which includes parts of Lawrence, Geist and the far east side. Voters there can choose who appears as their Democratic candidate.

We recently published an in-depth breakdown of the race from Mirror Indy — you can read it right here.
 

10:50 a.m.

The race to become Indiana's Republican nominee for governor will undoubtedly get much of the attention today, as its the state's first competitive gubernatorial primary in two decades.

The six Republican candidates are, in alphabetical order: Mike Braun, Brad Chambers, Suzanne Crouch, Eric Doden, Curtis Hill and Jamie Reitenour.

Statehouse Reporter Brandon Smith chatted with NPR last week to give an overview of the race. And if you need a last-minute refresher on where the candidates stand on specific issues, check out these recent articles:

• What candidates say about education
• What candidates say about Medicaid
• What candidates say about housing
• What candidates say about abortion
• What candidates say about energy, environment
   

10:00 a.m.

Polls have been open for a few hours, but you've got until 6 p.m. to get your vote in.

To find your polling place, go to IndianaVoters.com and search under your Voter Portal. At the very top of the page, it lists the locations you’re able to vote on Election Day.

There are 63 Indiana counties that have vote centers, where any county resident is able to vote at any polling place, no matter their address. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2011 that opened vote centers as an option for all counties — pending local government approval.