It's your business: Vote as if your community depends on it (because it does)

Tuesday, May 7, is Indiana’s Primary Election, with early voting leading up to it.

Your vote matters! Our recent local elections have seen some candidates or issues win by around 100 or fewer votes (!!)

However, this year’s early voting has seen low turnout. Only 3.3% of Monroe County’s 91,355 registered voters had voted as of Wednesday, May 1, reflecting low voter turnout trends across the state, according to Monroe County Election Central. So, relatively few voters can have an outsized impact in our election.

Have YOU made plans to vote and encourage others to do the same?

What’s at stake? Voters will consider an array of local candidates that influence day-to-day life across Monroe County, in addition to candidates for president, United States Congress, Indiana governor, and the Indiana General Assembly. Who’s on your ballot? Visit indianavoters.in.gov to check your voter registration, voting location, who is on your ballot, and what you need to vote (don’t forget your ID). You can also call Monroe County Election Central at 812-349-2690 for more information.

Select your ballot. At the primary polls, you’ll be asked if you’d like to select a Democratic or Republican ballot. The primary election narrows the list of candidates and enables political parties to choose their nominees for November’s general election. The primary election ballot you select will only have candidates from that political party, while the November general election ballot includes all parties. Unclear about the roles of local elected officials?

Monroe County Commissioner candidates are on the ballot, with seven candidates running for 2 of the 3 commissioner seats up for election. Commissioners have a wide range of executive and administrative authority across the county and serve four years on staggered terms. Monroe County Council, which has ultimate decision-making power regarding the fiscal affairs of the county government, has four candidates running for 3 open positions on the seven member Council.

All Council members serve staggered, four-year terms. Other positions that may appear on your ballot include candidates for Monroe Circuit Court judge, County Auditor, County Treasurer, Coroner, and County surveyor. Ballots will vary depending on the party you select and where you live, as described above. Learn more about the candidates. The Monroe County Democrat and Monroe County Republican Party websites have more information on their parties’ candidates. Vote411.org enables you to pull personalized voting information with details on candidates. The Herald-Times has run candidate profiles.

The BEDC also recently hosted a forum for Monroe County Commissioner candidates, with a recording available on CATS. Each candidate shared their vision for economic development in Monroe County and how it compares to the current path, which is available alongside their bios and campaign websites. At the BEDC, we remain neutral in political matters and do not endorse candidates. We are committed to working with all elected officials to promote economic vitality across Monroe County.

This year’s primary election can significantly impact our local community. Your informed vote will play a crucial role in determining the county's economic future. We urge all Monroe County residents to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard. Together, we can build a brighter future for Monroe County.

Finally, a big thank you goes to candidates and election workers. A great deal goes into running for office and holding an election — we appreciate all that you do for our community!

Jennifer Pearl is president of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation.