Early voting starts Tuesday

Voters have their first opportunity to go to the polls today.

Early voting begins today in Jay County for the primary election that features races ranging from president to Penn precinct committeeman.

Early voting is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday in the voting room at Jay County Courthouse.

Election day is June 2.

For those who have chosen to vote by mail, an option that was opened up to all Indiana voters this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, ballots must be received by noon on election day. (The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot was Thursday.)

A pair of commissioners races highlight the Republican ballot locally, while their are no contested local races on the Democrat side of the ticket.

Incumbent Republican Mike Leonhard, who is hoping to serve his fourth term as commissioner representing the north district, is facing a primary challenge from Rex Journay. Three candidates — Brian McGalliard, Duane Monroe and Barb Street — are competing for the GOP nomination to fill the south district commissioner seat being vacated by Republican Chuck Huffman.

Also at the countywide level, four Republicans are seeking three spots on the ballot for at-large seats on Jay County Council. The field is made up of incumbents Jeanne Houchins and Cindy Newton, former sheriff two-term Larry Newton, Cindy’s husband, and Matt Minnich, who serves on Jay County Plan Commission.

Other contested races at the county level feature two-term incumbent Max Ludy against Gail Dues for Jay Superior Court Judge and six-term incumbent Brad Daniels against Jeff Hopkins for Jay County surveyor.

Jay County Republicans will also choose between incumbent J.D. Prescott and challenger Brittany Kloer for state representative in District 33, which also includes Randolph County and part of Delaware County.

Democrats will have a choice for who to advance to the general election for state representative, as Julie Snider squares off against Ryan Scott Davis.

Both parties also have choices to make for U.S. Representative in the Third District, with GOP incumbent Jim Banks facing a challenge from Chris Magiera. Four candidates — Chip Coldiron, JP Kalonji, Carlos Marcano Jr. and Tommy Schrader — make up the field on the Democratic primary ballot.

Presidential primaries that are now an afterthought top the ballot. On the Democrat side, former vice president Joe Biden has secured the party’s nomination but is joined on the ballot by former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, businessman Tom Steyer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and enterpreneur Andrew Yang. For the Republicans, President Donald Trump will seek a second term in November although he does face a challenge of the ballot in Indiana from former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld.

Republicans Ilze Koch, Amy Schlichter, Jon Eads, Carla Horn, Jenae Blasdel, Matt Goldsworthy, Lenny Muhlenkamp, Jared Blasdel and Chad Schlichter are running for six Republican state delegate positions.

Chad Schlichter and Amy Schlichter are also running for Penn precinct committeeman.

Uncontested Republicans are Jon Eads (Jay Circuit Court clerk), Michael Brewster (coroner) and Paula Miller (treasurer). On the Democrat ballot, uncontested candidates are Judy Aker and Josh Gibson for Jay County Council at-large — both will advance, as there are three spots available — and Devon Smith (state delegate).

The following candidates are also running uncontested for Republican precinct committeeman: Melissa Elliott (Pike), Cindy Newton (Wayne 7), Michael Brewster (Wayne 3), Jeanne Houchins (Bearcreek), Carla Horn (Jackson), Lenny Muhlenkamp (Wabash), Matt Goldsworthy (Wayne 1), Chuck Huffman (Dunkirk 1) and Barry Hudson (Wayne 4).

Open slots on the ballot may be filled following the primary.