EARLY VOTING KICKS OFF
In Lake County, dozens show up early to cast ballots in person
Ralph Cyrkiel arrived at the St. John Township assessor’s office at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday, and was the first person to vote there.
“A lady told me a couple weeks ago that people would be coming at 7 a.m.,” Cyrkiel said. “I said I wanted to be the first and I was.”
The first day to vote early in-person in Indiana was Tuesday and goes through Nov. 2. In Lake County, there are 11 places to vote early in person, and registered voters can cast a ballot at any early voting polling location, officials said.
Voters in line said they felt the appropriate precautions were in place for them to cast a ballot amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and they chose to vote in person to make sure their ballot is counted.
At about 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, 1 0 minutes before poll s opened, there were 45 people waiting in line outside the St. John Township assessor’s office — wearing masks and social distancing. In Crown Point, there was an average of 55 people inside the Lake County Government Center throughout the morning waiting to cast a ballot, said LeAnn
Angerman, assistant director of the Lake County Election and Voter Registration Board.
The government center has 10 polling machines and voters are given a glove to wear as they sign in and use the machine, Angerman said. Between each voter, the machines are sanitized, she said.
After receiving many questions about voting by mail and safety measures put in place for early voting, Angerman said she is “glad we can provide them a safe way to” cast a ballot in person.
Cyrkiel, of St. John, said he always votes early, but seeing so many people in line on Tuesday was a first. Cyrkiel, a Trump supporter, said he didn’t consider voting by mail this election because he “believe(s) in voting in person.” He said he appreciated the safety measures put in place.
“I know my vote will be counted by voting in person,” Cyrkiel said. “If (the personal protective equipment) makes them feel safer, it makes me feel safer.”
Skip Hampton, of St. John, said he typically votes early in person, but he made sure to do so Tuesday to avoid crowds amid the pandemic.
“It felt safer to come here early and get it done. I want to make sure my vote goes where it is supposed to go,” Hampton said.
Wearing a shirt with “Notorious RBG,” in honor of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Hampton said it is obvious who he is voting for.
“People need to be engaged,” Hampton said. “I’m glad to see a lot of people out here waiting to vote.”
Noreen Adams, of Crown Point, said it was her first time voting early in person. Typically, Adams, a Trump supporter, said she has voted absentee by mail, but decided to vote early at the St. John Township Asses
sor’s Office to ensure her ballot was counted.
“I wanted to make sure my vote was heard, that’s why I’m here doing it personally. I don’t mind the wait,” Adams said, pointing to her Sudoku book and folding chair.
Inna Ramos, of Dyer, said she decided to vote early because as a Purdue University Northwest student she had time in her schedule to wait in line. She said she considered voting by mail, but “didn’t want mess ups or problems.”
Ramos, a Biden supporter, said she expected the line to be filled with more college students because most classes are virtual. But, as early voting continues, she said she hopes voters who are able to vote early.
“If you can do it, I suggest you do it,” Ramos said.