Voting continues across Vanderburgh County
Evansville-area voters were casting ballots Tuesday in a midterm election that includes races for Congress, statewide offices, the Indiana Legislature, county and township positions, school boards and town offices. Polls across Southwestern Indiana opened at 6 a.m. and were scheduled to remain open until 6 p.m.
The voting activity reported in Vanderburgh County included residents choosing a representative for Indiana's 8th Congressional District, as well as candidates for Indiana secretary of state, treasurer and auditor. The ballot also varies by location, with voters considering local offices and school board seats in addition to the broader contests.
As of 2:30 p.m., 15,585 voters had checked in at Vanderburgh County polling locations, according to the election update. The county clerk's office had also received 2,316 mail ballots. More than 23,000 people had voted early in person, though the report described that figure as a little above 23,000 rather than providing a precise total.
Turnout could surpass the 2022 total
The figures available Tuesday afternoon pointed toward a potentially stronger turnout than in the county's most recent comparable midterm election. Vanderburgh County recorded 47,815 ballots in 2022. The county recorded 59,028 ballots in 2018, another midterm year with a higher total.
| Election information | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Election Day check-ins by 2:30 p.m. | 15,585 |
| Mail ballots returned by 2:30 p.m. | 2,316 |
| Early, in-person voters | More than 23,000 |
| Vanderburgh County ballots in 2022 | 47,815 |
| Vanderburgh County ballots in 2018 | 59,028 |
Those numbers represent separate reporting categories and should not be treated as a final countywide total before election officials complete their count. The final result will depend on all Election Day ballots, early votes and accepted mail ballots being included in the official totals.
Steady lines reported at voting centers
Voting centers in Evansville and the surrounding county were described as busy but manageable Tuesday morning and afternoon. Short lines moved quickly at Methodist Temple on Lincoln Avenue and at the Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center. Traffic was steady at Plaza Park Middle School, while Washington Square Mall was identified as one of the more active locations.
- Methodist Temple on Lincoln Avenue had short, moving lines.
- The Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center also reported brief waits.
- Plaza Park Middle School saw steady traffic.
- Washington Square Mall remained busy during the day.
Poll workers and candidates reported healthy turnout at locations throughout the city and county. The observations offer a snapshot of activity at individual sites, but they do not establish the final turnout level or indicate the outcome of any race.
Key races draw attention
The Indiana 8th District contest includes Republican Mark Messmer and Democratic Evansville City Councilor Mary Allen. The race for secretary of state features Democrat Beau Bayh and Republican Max Engling. The update also noted that betting markets had posted projections for both contests, but those figures are not election results and do not replace votes counted by election officials.
By late afternoon, the focus remained on participation and the completion of voting rather than confirmed winners. Results for Vanderburgh County, nearby Warrick and Posey counties, Indiana House and Senate contests, the congressional race and statewide offices were being tracked as ballots were processed. Until officials finish counting and release results, the most definitive information available from Tuesday was the level of voter activity and the locations where residents were casting ballots.
