Voters will make choices Tuesday

Voters will have their final opportunity to go to the polls Tuesday.

Jay County voters will make a choice for Jay County Commissioner as well as weighing in on races for president, Indiana governor and U.S. and state representatives.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday for Election Day. Early voting is still available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday in the auditorium at Jay County Courthouse.

The only contested race at the county level is for the south district Jay County Commissioner seat. Democrat Blake Watson is taking on Republican Duane Monroe for the seat. (Monroe defeated incumbent Brian McGalliard in the GOP primary.)

Local voters have more opportunities to make choices in national and state races, including for president at the top of the ballot. That race features former president Republican Donald Trump, vice president Democrat Kamala Harris, Libertarian Chase Oliver and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the We The People party. (Kennedy pulled out of the race but his name remains on the ballot in Indiana.)

Other races at the federal level include Democrat Valerie McCray, Libertarian Andrew Horning and Republican Jim Banks for U.S. Senate and Republican Marlin Stutzman, Libertarian Jarrad Lancaster and Democrat Kiley Adolph for U.S. Representative in the 3rd District, which represents northeast Indiana including Jay County. 

Senate candidates are seeking the seat being vacated by governor candidate Mike Braun while those for representative are vying for the seat being vacated by Banks. (Stutzman held the seat prior to making a run for senator in 2016.)

For governor of Indiana, former state superintendent of public instruction Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater are running in addition to Braun.

Other state races include:

•State representative (District 33) — Incumbent Republican J.D. Prescott versus Democrat John Bartlett

•Attorney general — Democrat Destiny Wells against Republican Todd Rokita

Voters will also decide on the retention of Indiana Supreme Court Justices Loretta Rush, Mark Massa and Derek Molter and Fourth District Court of Appeals Judge Rudolph Pyle III.

And they will answer the following question regarding the ratification of an amendment to the state constitution: Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to remove the state superintendent of public instruction from the list of officeholders who shall discharge the powers and duties of the governor if the office of the governor and lieutenant governor are both vacant?

Uncontested in Tuesday's election for county-level positions are Republicans Doug Horn for north district commissioner; incumbent Brian Hutchison for Jay Circuit Court Judge; Jonelle Foreman for treasurer; Brad Daniels for surveyor; incumbent Matt Minnich along with Michael Brewster and Bryan Alexander for three county council seats; Brayden Fields for coroner; and Missy Elliott for Jay Circuit Court clerk.

State Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) is uncontested to retain his seat in District 79, which includes the northern third of Jay County.

Also uncontested are Jon Eads (District 1), Aaron Clark (District 4) and Chad Towell (District 6) for Jay School Board.