Hey all! Wanted to clear up what the scoop is regaring the Indiana poll closing times and also post a thread for Indiana stuff -- I've got the "official" Indiana Election Day Live Blogging Thread coming up later. So here's the scoop- on the order, and the poll closing times, and a fun story to end the day....
In Delaware County (Muncie, Indiana), they had a problem with the coding on the machines. As a result, there is a court order keeping the Delaware County polls open to 8:30 Eastern. I believe that Delaware County is primarily in IN-06, which is Barry Welsh's District.
But wait, there's more. As a result of Mitch Daniel's refusual to make tough decision, each county essentially got to choose if they wanted to be eastern or central time when Indiana went to daylight savings. As a result, the Congressional Districts along the western part of the state--I believe IN-02, and IN-08 of the ones that we are tracking, there are counties that are central and some that are eastern. As the polls close at 6, the polls in IN-02 and IN-08 won't be closed under 6 Central/7 Eastern. However IN-09 is entirely Eastern and from what I am told by the voter protection folks (I am doing the voter protection for Indiana) there is no court order issue pending
Therefore: IN-09 (Hill/Sodrel) should be 6:00 eastern closure
IN-02 (Chocola/Donnelly) and IN-09 (Hostettler/Ellsworth) should be a 6:00 central/7:00 eastern closure
IN-06 (Pence/Welsh) should be 8:30 closure
A lighter story....So like I said, I'm doing the Indiana Voter Protection. I go to my assigned polls this morning bright and early to introduce myself to the judges and inspectors and see how things are going (no problems here, by the way).
I'm talking to the inspector and I look up--I am momentarily stunned. There in front of me is not one, but two Elvises. As in "The King"... times 2. One in the 70s Elvis Rhinestone and Cape white jumpsuit; one the 1968 Elvis Black Leather outfit. And I don't just mean dressed--I mean hair, glasses, shoes... the whole nine yards.
So I'm thinking to myself.. I need more sleep, or coffee, or both, cause I am hallucinating two Elvii at my polling places. But no, there they were. It turns out that someone at the Monroe County Registrar's office is also an Elvis impersonator. The Wandering Elvii are, in fact, Monroe County election officals going around picking up absentee and provisional ballots and the like.
Got a fun Indiana story? Post it here...