On Oct. 8, early voting starts in Howard County for this years municipal election. At stake is the mayors office, which is up for grabs for the first time in 12 years in a wide-open race between Democrat Abbie Smith and Republican Tyler Moore. In addition, every seat on the Kokomo Common Council is up for election, as is the city clerk position.

After early voting commences voters can cast an early ballot at the Howard County Government Center, 120 E. Mulberry St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Nov. 1. Then, on Oct. 26, early voting opens at Indiana Wesleyan, 1916 W. Markland Ave., from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Oct. 29 early voting will ramp up, with additional locations open at Indiana Wesleyan, Carver Community Center, Russiaville Lions Club, Titan Annex, and UAW Local 685. Through Nov. 3 these locations will be open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. with the exception being that Indiana Wesleyan will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Nov. 2 and 4 the Howard County Government Center will reopen for early voting. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 2, and on Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Absentee voting also will commence on Oct. 8.

Voting on Election Day on Nov. 5 runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. In total, 13 vote centers will be open throughout Howard County. Those are Indiana Wesleyan, Carver Community Center, Russiaville Lions Club, Titan Annex, UAW Local 685, Eastern Performing Arts Center, First Assembly of God Church, Good Shepherd Church, Kokomo High School, Maple Crest School, Oakbrook Church, Senior Citizens Center, and Kokomo-Howard County Public Library South Branch. To see the locations of these vote centers, view the accompanying map.

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7.

In total, 11 positions within Kokomo government are up for election this year. However, only nine races are contested with the incumbents in Kokomo Common Council District 5, Republican Cynthia Sanders, and District 6, Thomas Miklik, not facing challengers this year.

In the mayoral race, Moore and Smith will be listed on the ballot alongside Libertarian Michael Virgin. However, Virgin recently announced a withdrawal from the mayoral race while endorsing Moore. But because the Libertarian didnt make the decision prior to a state-mandated deadline, he still will appear on the ballot.

Voters also will be tasked with selecting three candidates for the three at-large positions on the Kokomo Common Council. In that race, the incumbent candidates are Democrats Robert Hayes and John Michael Kennedy. Republicans Matthew Grecu, Kara Kitts-McKibben, and Antonio Stewart as well as Democrat Matthew Sedam also are on the ballot. The three candidates with the most votes will earn the at-large offices.

In the District 1, Republican Jason Acord faces incumbent Democrat Michael Wyant. In District 2, Democratic incumbent Robert Cameron is pitted against Republican Lynn Rudolph. For District 3, voters will select either Republican Ray Collins or Democrat Cathy Cox-Stover, who both seek to replace Councilwoman Janie Young after she chose not to seek reelection this year. Theres a three-way race in District 4, with Democratic incumbent Donnie Haworth facing Republican Greg Jones and Libertarian Danial Purvis.

And in the city clerk race, Republican Diane Howard is going against incumbent Democrat Brenda Brunnemer-Ott.

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Early voting starts soon | News - Kokomo Perspective