Today is election day across the state.
Marion County Clerk Steve Fox says polls opened at six am and remain open until seven Tuesday night.
“I think with early voting and vote by mail turnouts, it’s still a little lower this election. I’m looking at about a 15% voter turnout across the county. That is in line with what we did in 2019 which is a very similar election.”
Fox says some vote results will not be available until Thursday.
“We have write in for Odin School Board, Salem High School Board and Selmaville School Board. So on election night those are not going to be available. That is something we have to hand count so we won’t have those out there on election night but will work to have those available Thursday to the media.”
WJBD-FM will have the other vote results for you as they come in Tuesday night.
There were 235 early votes cast and 360 absentee ballots that had been received by Monday.
One voting location has been moved permanently. Those who vote in Centralia 13 who used to vote at Lively Stone Church will now vote at City Hope Church.
Among the contested races are for Salem City Council where five are seeking the two open seats. Those running are incumbent Craig Morton along with Neal Canon, Jeffrey Baldridge, Jacob Hockett, and Tracy Crouch. Appointed incumbent Amy Troutt is not seeking election. Mayor Nic Farley is running unopposed.
In Centralia, Mayor Bryan Kuder is unopposed. Neither incumbent councilman is seeking reelection with Barri Allen and Isreal ‘Izzy’ Fontanez the only two candidates seeking the two open city council seats.
In Odin, there is a three way race for the unexpired village President. They are Gregory Smith, Juanita Ricker-Pitts and Annette Schiro.
There is also a race for Ward 3 alderman in Kinmundy where Stephen Wilkins and Gary Cooper are both seeking the open seat.
In Central City, Thomas Cagle, Jeffrey Thomas, Gary Hall, Thomas ‘Todd’ Reeves, and James Hill are seeking the three open seats.
There are also several contested school board races.
At Salem High School, there are three open seats with only two on the ballot Sarah Meador and Kyle Gansauer. There are two write in candidates….Shawn Morris and Kelli Jackson.
In the Selmaville Grade School, Robin Brooks is running as a write in candidate against Thomas Tate, William Brant Blackburn and Larry Maxey who are on the ballot.
In the Salem Grade School District, incumbents Lynette Dye, Brad Crow, and Alisha Ambuehl are being challenged by Karma Dunham.
In Raccoon Grade School, David Jourdan, Daniel Foutch, Mark England and Mehgan English are seeking the three open seats.
In the Odin School District Brandon Moore, Michael Hoover, James Hodge, Rudie Walker and Jeanette Hodge are seeking the four full terms. Patrick Dagg is running unopposed as a write-in candidate for the two year unexpired term.
In the Patoka School District, Cassandra Huffman, Lucas Barnes, Andrea Thompson, Andrew Goldsboro and Jeremy Landreth are seeking the four open seats.
In the Kaskaskia College Board race, incumbents Jim Beasley and Bryan Holthaus are being challenged by Brian Brink and Chuck Lear.
In Clinton County, there is a proposal to collect a one cent sales tax to benefit public schools in the county.
