Montgomery County voters heading to the polls Tuesday for the Nov. 3 General Election, will have several choices to make at the federal, state and local levels, including seats in the Indiana General Assembly, township offices and local school boards.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at five voting locations throughout the county. Crawfordsville Area Transportation is offering transportation to and from polls on Tuesday between 8 a.m. and noon on Tuesday.
As of Oct. 28, 3,309 ballots had been cast, most of those through in-person early voting. Montgomery County has 25,294 registered voters, meaning approximately 13% have already cast their ballots.
One of the major races on the ballot is for Indiana’s Fourth Congressional District, where incumbent Republican Jim Baird faces Democrat Drew Cox. Independent David E. Bokash also is registered as a write-in candidate.
In the State Senate District 23 race, incumbent Republican Spencer Deery faces Democrat David Sanders and Independent Joshua Brant.
Several Indiana House seats are also up for election.
In District 13, incumbent Republican Matt Commons faces Democrat Brenna Geswein and Ben Davis of the Socialist Party of Indiana.
Republican incumbent Jeffrey Thompson faces Democrat Karen Whitney in District 28, while District 41 features Republican Mark Genda and Democrat Jackson Hayes.
In District 44, incumbent Republican Beau Baird faces Democrat Kelsey Kauffman.
Statewide races include secretary of state, state comptroller and state treasurer.
The secretary of state race includes Democrat Beau Bayh, Republican Max Engling, Libertarian Lauri Shillings and Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard. Andrew Delano of the National Socialist American Workers’ Party is listed as a write-in candidate.
For state comptroller, Republican Elise Nieshalla faces Democrat Jessica Bailey and Libertarian John Schick.
The state treasurer race features Republican Daniel Elliott and Democrat Coumba Kebe.
At the county level, several Republican candidates are running without opposition, including Matt McCarty for sheriff, Jim Fulwider for District 2 county commissioner, Jennifer Andel for auditor, Morgan Biggs for treasurer and Sherri Bentley for assessor.
Republican county council candidates Joyce Grimble in District 1, Matt Nelson in District 2, Jordan Foland in District 3 and Brett Cating in District 4 are also running without opposition.
Other uncontested county races include Republicans Heather Barajas for Montgomery Superior Court 1 judge, Daniel Petrie for Montgomery Superior Court 2 judge and Jacob Moore for prosecuting attorney.
Local voters will also decide several township races.
In Union Township, Republican Aaron Morgan faces Democrat Kay Whetstone faces for township trustee.
Six candidates are seeking three seats on the Union Township Board. Democrats
Courtney Houghton, Shanna Turpin and Gi West face Republicans Stacey Guard, Darren Haas and Alan Plunkett.
In Franklin Township, Independent Bob Ryker, Libertarian Thomas Knueven and Republican Greg Wilcox are running for township board.
The Waveland clerk-treasurer race features Republican Shawna Wilson and Independent Dylan Hatch.
Voters will select school board members in all three county school districts.
The Crawfordsville Community School Corporation has six candidates on the ballot for at-large school board positions: Democrat Ellen Elaine Ball, Independents Kathleen Brown and Darren Heeke and Republicans Kent Minnette, James Monte Thompson and Steven Tomamichel.
In the North Montgomery Community School Corporation, American Solidarity Party candidate Bonnie Kallis and Republican Clayton Randolph are competing for the Franklin Township seat.
Other North Montgomery candidates include Republican Brady Rogers for Coal Creek Township, Gary Bohlander, whose party affiliation is not specified, for Sugar Creek Township and Republican Terresa Hatke for Wayne Township.
South Montgomery Community School Corporation candidates include Republicans Cody Hargis for an at-large seat, Jacob Watson for Brown Township, David Lee Reeves for Clark Township and Cody Leatherman for Walnut Township.
In addition to selecting candidates, voters will decide two proposed amendments to the Indiana Constitution.
The first public question concerns bail eligibility and would expand the circumstances under which judges can deny bail to individuals charged with crimes. Under the current Indiana Constitution, bail may be denied for murder or treason when the evidence against the accused meets the required standard.
The proposed amendment would allow judges to deny bail for other offenses if the proof is evident or the presumption strong and the state proves by clear and convincing evidence that no conditions of release would reasonably protect another person or the community.
A yes vote would approve the amendment and expand judges’ authority to deny bail, while a no vote would keep the current constitutional provision in place.
The second public question concerns residency requirements for city and town court judges.
Currently, those judges must live in the city or town where they serve. The proposed amendment would allow them to live anywhere in the county where their court is located or in the bordering county closest to the city or town.
A yes vote would approve the expanded residency requirements, while a no vote would leave the existing requirement unchanged.
Both amendments require approval from a majority of voters casting ballots on each question to become part of the Indiana Constitution.
Five voting locations will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
• Montgomery County Government Center, 1580 Constitution Row, Crawfordsville
• Montgomery County 4-H Building, 400 Parke Ave., Crawfordsville
• North Montgomery High School, 5945 U.S. 231, Crawfordsville, south entrance
• Rock Point Church, 429 W. County Road 150 South, Crawfordsville
• Whitesville Church, 3603 S. Ladoga Road, Crawfordsville
Voters must bring an acceptable government-issued photo ID to cast their ballots. Identification must include a photograph, the voter’s name and an expiration date that meets Indiana’s requirements.
Crawfordsville Area Transportation will also offer rides to the polls Tuesday, with service available from 8 a.m. to noon.
Residents needing transportation can call 765-364-5173 to schedule a ride.
The transportation service is being promoted in partnership with the League of Women Voters and the city of Crawfordsville.
Voters can find additional election information, including registration details and voting requirements, at indianavoters.in.gov or by contacting the Montgomery County Clerk’s Office at 765-364-6437.
