Voter turnout in Jackson County during the past three presidential elections hasn’t exactly set the world on fire.

That could change, however, if the first week of early voting this month is any indication.

As of closing time Wednesday — eight days after ballots were cast at the first early voting center to open in Jackson County — 1,516 or 5.8% of the county’s 26,080 registered voters had voted. Another 442 of the 724 registered voters to request mail-in ballots had returned those ballots to the Jackson County Clerk’s office in Brownstown during the same period, according to voter registration clerk Robin Polley. That means voter turnout stood at 7.5% or 1,959 registered voters by 6 p.m. Wednesday when the vote center at the library.

That center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and noon to 5 p.m. Friday at the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour.

A number of citizens trickled into the library Thursday morning to cast their ballot including William Marsh of Seymour, who was voting for the first time since retiring from political office.

After leaving the Navy, March ran for sheriff in Bartholomew County and retired from the Seymour Police Department in 1992. He also served as a Jackson Township trustee for more than 20 years.

“I voted today for many personal and political reasons,” he said. “It can be a nervous feeling for some because they are afraid, they might make a mistake or be seen in the public eye.”

On Thursday, Oct. 21, additional voter centers at the Jackson County Courthouse, 111 S. Main St., Brownstown, and the Jackson County Learning Center, 323 Dupont Drive, will open. Their hours of operation will be noon to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and noon to 5 p.m. Fridays.

The vote centers at the library and courthouse also will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Nov. 2. And the library vote center also will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 2.

There is only one countywide race on the ballot with incumbent Republicans R. Brett Turner of Crothersville, John L. Nolting of Brownstown and Amanda Cunningham Lowery of Vallonia, previously uncontested in the primary county council at-large race, will now face off against Libertarian Stephen Crawford of Medora.

No Democrats are listed on the ballot for county-wide offices. That means the GOP candidates for those offices — along with recently appointed County Auditor Hans Eilbracht — will take office Jan. 1. Those candidates are Jackson Circuit Judge Richard D. Poynter, Treasurer Kathy S. Hohnstreiter, Coroner Paul Foster, Surveyor Daniel Blann, District I Commissioner Drew Markel and District 2 Commissioner Drew Storey.

Another sought after office on the ballot is the Indiana House District 69 seat. Republican incumbent Jim Lucas of Seymour will face off against Democrat candidate Trish Whitcomb, also of Seymour. District 69 includes portions of Jackson, Bartholomew, Scott and Washington counties.

Also, the Indiana House District 62 seat is up for grabs with incumbent Republican Dave Hall of Norman facing a challenge from Democrat Thomas Horrocks of Bloomington. District 62 includes Owen and Salt Creek townships in Jackson County, all of Brown County, and portions of Monroe County.

The Indiana House District 65 seat will be retained by incumbent Republican Chris May, R-Bedford, who is running unopposed. District 62 includes Carr Township in Jackson County.

Indiana Ninth District Congresswoman Erin Houchin, R-Salem, whose district includes Jackson County, is running for a second two-year term. She will face Democrat Timothy “Tim” Peck and Libertarian Russell “Russ” Brooksbank.

Bedford Republican Eric Koch will win a third four-year term as the District 44 state senator as he is running unopposed. District 44 includes Brown, Jackson, Lawrence and Orange counties and portions of Monroe County.

Also, three candidates are vying for the governor and lieutenant governor seats. They are Republicans Mike Braun, a U.S. senator, and running mate Micah Beckwith, Democrats Jennifer McCormick and running mate Terry Goodin of Austin and Libertarians Donald Rainwater and running mate Tonya Hudson.

Republican incumbent Jim Banks will face off against Democrat Valerie McCray and Libertarian Andrew Horning for the U.S. Senator seat.

Incumbent Attorney General Todd Rokita and Democrat Destiny Wells are vying for the Attorney General seat.

There are four candidates vying for the coveted seats of U.S. President and Vice President: Republican Former President Donald Trump and running mate Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Libertarian candidates Chase Oliver and running mate Mike Ter Maat and “We the People” Party candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and running mate Nicole Shanahan.

In 2020, 10,199 or 53% of the 28,642 registered voters voted early in the general election and the final tally showed 19,422 or 68% of the registered voters cast ballots. Statewide turnout that year saw 3,068,625 or 65% of 4,751,370 registered voters cast ballots.

For the general election in 2016, 28% or 5,054 of the 30, 351 registered votes voted before election. Overall, 59% or 17,976 of 30,531 registered voters in Jackson County cast ballots. Statewide turnout that year 58% or 2,807,676 of 4,829,243 registered voters cast ballots.

For the 2012 general election, 19% or 3,307 of 29,380 registered voters voted early. Overall, 58% or 17,006 of registered voters cast ballots in the county. Statewide 58% or 2,663,368 of 4,555,257 registered voters cast ballots.