Election day in Indiana is Tuesday, Nov. 3, but you can cast your vote in person as early as this week.
Early, in-person absentee voting starts Tuesday, Oct. 6. You don’t need any special reason to go vote early; any registered voter can do it.
This year, in-person early voting is taking place at Deer Run Park in the new election board office, in the lower level of Veterans Hall.
Where’s Deer Run?
Deer Run Park is on McLary Road in Nashville. McLary Road connects with Helmsburg Road. Do you know where St. Agnes Catholic Church is, on the hill by the hard curve in Helmsburg Road near Nashville? Turn there; that’s McLary Road. Follow it straight back and you’ll hit Deer Run Park.
Veterans Hall is the first building you’ll see after you enter Deer Run Park. It’s on your right. Pull into the parking lot on the lower level and that’s where the election board office is.
To your right after entering the door is where early voting will be.
Masks and hand sanitizer will be available for voters who need them.
When can I go?
Early voting is available:
Weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6 to Monday, Nov. 2 (closing at noon Nov. 2)
Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Oct. 24 and 31
What do I need?
A photo ID. It must state your name; include your photograph; have an expiration date and still be valid, or expired after Nov. 8, 2018; and be issued by Indiana or the United States government.
Some knowledge of the candidates you’ll have to be choosing from.
How do I learn?
The Brown County Democrat published a voter information guide in the Sept. 23 paper. We have a few extras if you need a paper copy. Or, you can read it online for free at bcdemocrat.com/2020/09/30/2020-general-election-voter-guide. In that guide you’ll find a list of candidates and basic question-and-answer stories, helping you learn where they stand on certain issues.
There will also be a sample ballot posted at your voting location so you can see who your choices are.
Am I registered?
Voter registration for the general election closed on Oct. 5. If you aren’t registered to vote in Brown County, you can’t vote this fall.
If you’re not sure, you can check your registration by visiting the state’s voter information website, https://indianavoters.in.gov.
Can I vote by mail?
Some Indiana voters can vote absentee by mail, but not everyone can this fall.
Anyone who will be out of the area for work on election day, has a disability, is 65 or older, can’t get to the polls, or meets other specific requirements can apply for a ballot by mail. For details, visit indianavoters.in.gov or contact the Brown County clerk’s office at 812-988-5510.
The last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot is Thursday, Oct. 22, but the Indiana Secretary of State’s office is urging voters to request them well before that date because of an anticipated high volume of requests.
The rule has been that mail-in absentee ballots must be received in the county clerk’s office by noon Tuesday, Nov. 3 or they will not be counted. However, last week, a state appeals court ruled that as long as ballots are postmarked by Nov. 3, they can still count. That ruling may be challenged, however. To be safe, Indiana election officials have been encouraging voters to mail completed ballots at least a week before the actual deadline.
Ballots can be mailed, hand-delivered to the clerk’s office on the first floor of the courthouse, or hand-delivered to the election office at Deer Run Park during early voting hours (see hours above).
Election day voting
If you want to vote in person on election day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 12 polls will be open throughout the county.
Voting hours on election day are between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
On election day, you have to go to the voting location in the precinct in which you live. You can’t just go to the one closest to you; it might not be the precinct in which you are registered. If it turns out that you are not actually registered in that precinct and you vote anyway on what is called a “provisional ballot,” your ballot will be rejected before it is counted.
If you don’t know what precinct you live in, call the county clerk’s office to check (812-988-5510) or look up your voter registration at indianavoters.in.gov.
Even if you think you know where to go, check this list, because all polling places have changed since the primary and some since the last fall election.
Hamblen 1: Sprunica Baptist Church, 3902 Sprunica Road
Hamblen 2: Hickory Ridge Community Center, 2314 Hickory Ridge Lane
Hamblen 3: Church of the Lakes, 8844 Nineveh Road
Jackson 1 and 2: Fruitdale Volunteer Fire Department, 5200 State Road 135 (Bean Blossom)
Jackson 3 and 4: Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department, 4831 Helmsburg Road
Van Buren: Southern Brown Volunteer Fire Department, 4040 State Road 135 South
Washington 1: The Pentecostals, 60 Mt. Liberty Road (corner of Mt. Liberty and State Road 46 East)
Washington 2: Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 1750 State Road 46 East
Washington 3: New Life Community Church, 1450 State Road 135 North
Washington 4: Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 1750 State Road 46 East
