By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Primary Election Day on Tuesday, May 3, will usher in the arrival of vote centers in Kosciusko County.

Kosciusko County is one of the latest Indiana counties to shift to the use of vote centers,  which allows registered voters to cast ballots at any of the 21 vote centers within the county.

The chance to vote at any of the locations is expected to provide more flexibility and convenience for voters.

Aside from the ability to vote at any vote center in the county, it won’t feel that much different because there are almost as many places to vote today as there were in 2020 when there were 24 locations.

“Other than allowing voters to vote at any poll location, everything else is the same. I feel like it should run as a normal election,” said Kosciusko County Clerk Ann Torpy.

The county joins 58 other counties in Indiana that have adopted the use of vote centers.

Torpy said there were no complications or problems leading up to Election Day.

She said the county saw 1,258 people cast ballots early. About 300 people sought to vote by mail.

Election officials tend to believe vote centers can eventually save money by having fewer vote locations.

But local officials took a conservative approach in transitioning and will eye the possibility of reducing the number of vote centers in the future.

The county election board will review the circumstances after election day and consider possible changes for future elections.

Possibly the biggest factor could be the weather. The National Weather Service predicts a 100 percent chance of rain Tuesday. Tuesday’s high is expected to be 64.

As is the norm, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ohio joins Indiana Tuesday as the first of 13 states that will have primaries in May.

Here is a list of vote center locations:

Atwood – Atwood Community Center, 213 Hovey St.

Burket/Mentone – Mentone Fire Station, 201 W Main St.

Claypool – Claypool Lions Building, 205 W Calhoun St.

Etna Green – Heritage Park Building, 338 S. Walnut St.

Leesburg – Leesburg Lions Community Building, 114 W School St.

Milford – Wawasee Community Bible Church, 2035 E. 1300 N.

North Webster – North Webster Community Center, 301 N Main St.

Nappanee – Mount Tabor Hall, 8424 N. 800 W., (north of Etna Green)

Pierceton – Pierceton Community Building, 105 W. Walnut St.

Silver Lake – Town Hall Meeting Room, 604 N. Jefferson St.

Sidney – Amazing Grace Community Church, 202 W. Arthur St.

Syracuse – Syracuse Community Center, 1013 N Long Drive

Winona Lake – Christ’s Covenant Church, 2090 E. Pierceton Road

Warsaw

Center Lake Pavilion, 117 E. Canal St.

Church of God, 1059 Rozella Road.

Community Life Center, 825 N. Harrison St.

First Christian Church, 115 Park Ridge Drive.

Ivy Tech-Community College, 2545 Silveus Crossing.

Moose Lodge, 1815 W. Lake St.

New Life Christian Church 744 S. 325 E.

Shrine Building, County Fairgrounds, 1400 E. Smith St.