By Lindsay Doty
A long line of Hendricks County residents wrapped around the Hendricks County Government Center in Danville this morning for the first day of early voting in Indiana.
Voters wore masks and tried to stay spread out as they waited in big crowds.
“Very busy today, we do have long lines and have since we opened at 8 a.m,” said Hendricks County Clerk Debbie Hoskins.
“I was expecting to be busy, however, I did not expect to have this long of line on the first day of early voting. I am happy to see this many voters voting early,” she said.
As of noon, the clerk’s office reported 284 voters had cast their ballots for early in-person voting.
The Hendricks County Clerks office has been following health guidelines for voting during a pandemic. Voters and poll workers are required to wear masks and volunteers have placed blue X’s on the floor to socially distance voters.
“We placed blue X’s on the floor from voting room to stairs. We are now placing blue X’s throughout the building on the northside,” said Hoskins.
The clerk’s office has added extra machines to all early voting sites.
The Hendricks County Government Center in Danville is the only location currently open for early in-person voting in Hendricks County. Five satellite voting locations will open up for early voting on Oct. 14. Poll workers expect more crowds and lines when voters cast their ballots at those locations.
The satellite locations include Hope Community Church in Brownsburg, Radiant Chapel in Avon, Brownsburg Fire Training Facility in Brownsburg, Guilford Township Community Center in Plainfield, and Plainfield Christian Church in Plainfield.
To vote early, a registered voter need only a valid photo ID.
Early voting hours at the Hendricks County Government Center, 355 S Washington St., Danville:
Tuesday -Friday, Oct. 6-Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturdays Oct. 17, 24, 31 from 8 a.m – 3 p.m.
Monday Nov. 2 from 8 a.m-12 p.m.
