INDIANAPOLIS — With Election Day right around the corner, Hoosiers will soon find out which campaign messages resonated the most with voters statewide.
“I think there are a lot of people that want to make sure they get out and get their vote counted,” voter Gail Farnsley said. ”Sometimes, in Indiana, if you’re not on the Republican side there’s a sense of 'why bother?', but I think people are saying 'I gotta get out and make my voice heard'."
To some Hoosiers waiting to vote outside Indy’s Global Village Thursday, the economy was top of mind.
“[The] cost of living—it’s hard, so that’s important to me this year,” voter Laura Weyrick said.
Others said how they voted didn’t boil down to one issue.
”I think they’re all important at this point,” voter Marcia Boring said.
”I don’t think I have an important issue above anything else,” voter Cindy Davidson said. “Just here to vote for President.”
However, for others we spoke to, protecting women’s rights was their top priority.
”What they do with their body is their choice,” voter Karen Lyles said.
”I’m an OBGYN, so I feel really strongly about, you know, a woman having access to whatever healthcare she needs,” voter Liz Mazzone said.
And that wasn’t the only thing many voters said they wanted to protect:
”Democracy,” voter Brent Lyles said.
”The whole election integrity and the aspect of democracy, I mean that’s also huge for me,” Mazzone said.
”I’m very much opportunity for everybody, and not forcing your beliefs on other people,” Farnsley said.
Republican strategist and former Indiana state lawmaker Michael Murphy said the economy is much more likely to influence Indiana’s down-ballot races.
”Hoosiers are feeling a lot of change currently,” Murphy said. "I’m not just talking about the price of bread or milk; I’m talking about to their jobs, you know, their long-term future.”
”You hear a lot about reproductive rights in the state of Indiana for the Democratic Party, whereas there’s more of an emphasis in the economy and immigration even in state-level races for Republicans,” Laura Wilson, an Associate Professor of Political Science at IU, said.
If you plan to vote early, volunteers strongly suggest you bring a chair, bring some water, or bring a book with you. That’s because you might be waiting up to two hours at some polling sites. The last day for early voting is Monday, November 4. Please check with your county to see when/where you can vote that day. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5.