Jay Co. cuts to five 5 polling places

There will be in-person voting for the primary election. But sites will be limited, and voting by mail is recommended.

During its meeting this week, Jay County Election Board decided to consolidate to five polling places for the June 2 primary.

Jay County clerk Jon Eads said this morning the changes were made because the expectation is that a greater number of ballots will be handled by mail. He also said there is concern about having enough poll workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The five polling places for the primary will be as follows:

•Bryant Community Center — Bearcreek and Wabash precincts

•Jay Community Center — Wayne 1, Wayne 2, Wayne 3, Wayne 4, Wayne 7, Madison and Noble precincts

•Jay County Scouting Facility — Greene, Jefferson and Pike precincts

•Pennville Lion’s Club — Penn and Jackson precincts

•West Jay Community Center — Dunkirk 1, Dunkirk 3, Redkey and Knox precincts

Jay County previously had 11 polling places. That was consolidated to nine earlier this year because of lack of security and/or Wi-Fi access at a couple of sites.

Early voting statewide had already been reduced from a month to a week. It will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 26 through 29, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 30 and 8:30 a.m. to noon June 1 in the voting room at Jay County Courthouse.

Despite the availability of election day sites and early voting, Eads recommended that Jay County residents vote by mail.

“Because we don’t know what is going to happen with the COVID situation,” Eads said. “If it continues and the numbers don’t come down and they extend the closure, (by voting by mail) their voting would not be hindered.”

The last day to submit an application for an absentee ballot is May 21. Jay County residents can request an application for an absentee ballot from the clerk’s office by calling (260) 726-4951 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays or by going to indianavoters.com. Applications should be sent to Jay County Clerk, 120 N. Court St., Portland, IN 47371.

The deadline to turn ballots in to the clerk’s office is noon June 2.

Indiana’s election, including primary races ranging from president to county offices, was originally scheduled for May 5. Early voting would have started April 7.

That changed March 20 when Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced the primary would be moved to June 2.

On March 25, Indiana Election Division announced voter registration deadlines and early voting dates would be moved back 28 days to bring them in line with the new election date. It also ruled voting by mail would be allowed for anyone. Previously Indiana residents needed to provide a reason for voting by mail.

Because there are expected to be more mail-in ballots this year, Indiana’s deadline to have them counted and results finalized is 3 p.m. June 12.

Contested races locally — for commissioner, superior court judge, county council and surveyor — are all on the Republican side of the ballot. Both parties contested races for District 33 state representative and Third District U.S. representative.

Ohio’s primary, which was originally scheduled for April 7, has also been changed.

Gov. Mike DeWine originally moved the election to June 2. Since then, the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 197, setting April 28 as the final day of the primary election.

It is being conducted almost entirely by mail, with in-person voting limited to those with disabilities and those who do not have a home mailing address.

Votes will begin being counted after 7:30 p.m. April 28, with final unofficial results to be available May 8.