INDIANAPOLIS — Despite the long lines for early voting and Election Day, voter turnout in Marion County was lower than it was four years ago.
Director of Elections Patrick Becker said there's still lots of work to be done.
"We were able to tabulate over 133,000 absentee ballots on Election Day, which is the most we've been able to do in this county," Becker said.
Marion County saw nearly 50% voter turnout, a statistic Becker anticipates growing to about 54% once military, overseas, mail-in ballots and Election Day arrival ballots are counted.
When you compare voter turnout to nearby counties, more than 60% of voters headed to the polls:
- Boone County: 65.7%
- Hamilton County: 70.51%
- Johnson County: 63.83%
- Hendricks County: 64.33%
- Hancock County: 68.65%
"In 2016 and 2020, we were ranked 42nd out of the 50 states in our voter turnout, so we don't tend to match that high of a nation as a whole," said IU political science professor Elizabeth Bennion.
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Bennion said the state can do things to help boost voter turnout.
"Things like same-day registration or automatic voter registration which is an opt-out rather than an opt-in system. As well as no-excuse voting by mail. Other states tried that, they have higher turnout rate," said Bennion.
Another solution is to have issues on ballots that drive people to the polls.
"We also don't have ballot initiatives, like putting the issue of legalization of abortion, legalization of marijuana on the ballot, certain voter reform packages on the ballot as they did in Michigan (to) drive people to the polls," said Bennion.
It's a work in progress for Marion County election workers.
"I think there's a big gap for us and a challenge for us as administrators to educate the public on what it takes," Becker said.
To ensure every voice is heard.