First day of voting draws lines at the County Building; estimated wait time was 35 minutes

LAFAYETTE, Ind. ― The line to vote early stretched out of the Tippecanoe County Building and along Third Street for almost half of a block, kicking off local residents' participation in the 2024 presidential elections.

Wabash Township Trustee Angel Valentin was one of those in line about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. After waiting 20 minutes in line outside, he was through the doors and just inside the County Building at 20 N. Third St. He probably had another five- or 10-minute wait.

As of about 1 p.m., 554 voters had cast ballots, according to the county's interactive website that shows which early voting sites or vote centers are open, the estimated wait time and the schedule for when a particular site will be open.

More: Election map showing waiting times and number of ballots cast

Early voting at the County Building started Tuesday and continues there from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Oct. 25. It also will be the site of early voting from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2. The County Building also will be open for voting from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 4.

Starting on Oct. 19, early voting sites branch out to venues in the county.

More: Early Voting sites and dates

More: Election Day vote centers

Tippecanoe County voters may cast their ballots at any early voting site or at one of 15 vote centers on Election Day . They must have a valid state-issued photo ID to vote. Some examples of acceptable IDs include a state identification card, a driver's license, a passport or an active-duty military ID.

Voters this year will select Indiana's Electoral College electors for president and vice president. They will select a new governor and lieutenant governor. They'll also select a new U.S. senator for Indiana and their U.S. Congressional representative.

Down-ballot races include state offices, as well as county offices such as commissioners, coroner, treasurer, surveyor and council at-large seats.

Further down the ballot, voters will vote for school board members based on where voters live.

Election Day is Nov. 5, and polls will be open that day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: First day of voting draws lines at the County Building; estimated wait time was 35 minutes