Municipal election voting starts today in Columbus, other cities

City elections are underway in Columbus and other Hoosier communities.

The election is Nov. 5th but early voting started today. That is available at the Bartholomew County Courthouse voter registration office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, until noon on Monday, Nov. 4th.

A second early voting center will open at Donner Center on Oct. 28th, the week before the election. Saturday early voting will be available from 8 to 3 on Oct. 26th and Nov. 2nd.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps said that more than 90 mail-in absentee ballots have already been received, more than the 12 on the opening day of the May primary election.

In Columbus, the only contested citywide race is for the City Council’s two at-large seats, where incumbents Democrat Tom Dell and Republican Laurie Booher are facing Democrat Grace Kestler and Republican Josh Burnett. Republicans, Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Clerk-Treasurer Luann Welmer, are both unopposed in their re-election bids.

Voters will also have a full slate of candidates for the district seats on Columbus City Council. District 1 will see incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch in a three-way race with Democrat Jerone Wood and independent Michael Kinder, District 2 will feature incumbent Democrat Elaine Wagner against Republican Jim Hartsook.

The District 3 race will feature Republican Councilman Dave Bush, who was appointed to his seat earlier this year, will face Democrat Katea Ravega.

In Council District 4, incumbent Republican Frank Miller is facing Democrat Michael Schoumacher. Incumbent Tim Shuffett, a Republican, is running against Democrat Ross Thomas in Council District 5.

Some voters in northwestern Bartholomew County will also be casting ballots in Edinburgh at-large council and clerk-treasurer races.

Corrections: The date of the opening of the Donner Center satellite voting site was incorrect in an earlier version of this story. Also, Michael Kinder’s last name was incorrect in an earlier version of the story.