Referendum Update
I’ll be doing updates over the course of the day so check back here periodically.
At 5:00 p.m.
- There’s one hour to go before the polls close.
- 140 of the 590 precincts absentee ballots have been counted.
- The election board approved five more teams to come in and help count ballots.
- There has been high turnout in Franklin Township and Beech Grove and the trend I reported this morning is apparently continuing. “Yes” for Wishard, “No” for schools.
At 2:50 p.m.
- Point of correction. Absentee ballot counting is still taking place and not complete as mentioned earlier. Clerk staff are going through about 20 precincts per hour.
At 2:00 p.m.
- We’ve got four hours until the polls close.
- I’m told the Marion County Clerk’s Office is finishing up counting nearly 8,000 absentee ballots.
- Turnout is still heavier in the south than other parts of the county.
- Beech Grove High School and Hornets Elementary school were on temporary lockdown today as police searched for a burglary suspect. No word on how that lockdown impacted voters.
At 11:00 a.m.
- More evidence from folks in southern Marion County, particularly Franklin Township, that voters are splitting their tickets by voting “yes” on the hospital and “no” on the schools. I’m going to be paying close attention to this trend.
- The counting should start on absentee and early voting ballots in the next hour.
- Indy Star is reporting the Fairbanks Foundation is promising $6 million toward new hospital if referendum passes.
- What are you hearing or seeing?
At 8:50 a.m.
- I’m hearing voter turnout has been light, but steady. The heavier voting has been taking place in the southern portion of Marion County. What I’m also hearing that’s pretty interesting is the trend in Franklin and Beech Grove tends to be split-ticket voters. They’re voting “yes” on Wishard and “no” on the schools. It will be interesting to see if the trend continues.
- Marion County Clerk Beth White tells me this morning that they will start counting the early votes at noon today. And because there’s only one or two questions on the ballot the votes should be tallied by 8:15 p.m. this evening.
