Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
Unfortunately, in Hamilton County, we regularly disenfranchise ourselves when it comes to municipal elections.
In the 2022 general election, which featured congressional races, statehouse races, a U.S. Senate race and more, 48 percent of registered voters went to the polls in Hamilton County. During the 2020 presidential general election, an impressive 75 percent of Hamilton County voters showed up and made their voices heard.
But for the 2023 municipal primaries, less than 14 percent of voters countywide showed up to vote. While there were unopposed mayoral races in Fishers and Noblesville, voters were given the opportunity to select new mayors in Westfield and Carmel and turnout was still low. It was significantly down compared to 2019, which saw 16.86 percent turnout.
Some precincts in Hamilton County saw turnout lower than 5 percent of registered voters. That’s insane!
Countywide, we need to do a better job boosting voter turnout in the fall. In Carmel, especially, the future of our city is on the ballot after nearly three decades of Jim Brainard as mayor. This is a very important election, and we can’t move our community backwards.
My biggest piece of advice? Don’t wait until Election Day to vote. I know people like the ritual of going on that day, but things can happen. Your car breaks down. You get sick. Your boss tosses a major project on your lap. Don’t leave it to chance. Vote early!
To find out more, visit indianavoters.in.gov.
Adam Aasen is a City Councilor representing Carmel’s Southeast District.