Editor’s note: This is the third article in the Civic Engagement Series. For information about how to cast your ballot, click here. For a personal perspective on the value of voting in local elections from GreatNews.Life Founder Chris Mahlmann, click here.
On November 6, 2024, Indiana voters will cast their votes in the 2024 general election.
For both parties, knowing who is running and what they stand for is important. You can learn who is on the ballot in the county where you are registered to vote by visiting indianavoters.in.gov and clicking Who's On the Ballot.
Click submit and you will see a list of candidates on your ballot. Voters should learn as much as they can about candidates beforehand to make an informed decision. This can be difficult to do in today's tumultuous political climate that is fueled by aggressive social media and advertising campaigns that can be based on slamming opponents instead of informing voters on the issues, but facts are available from non-partisan sites, and there are even opportunities to meet candidates in person or watch candidate forums online, on TV, or via radio.
Helpful Websites
Vote411.org/indiana is a non-partisan resource for general voting information, but it also has a personalized ballot section. Click the “Menu” button in the top left corner, and then select “Candidate and Ballot Measure Information” under “Voter Guides.” You will be prompted to then enter your address and choose which party you would like to view (you can also choose “view all” to see every candidate). From there, you’ll be shown a list of all local races that will directly affect you and be given the option to explore and compare candidate responses to Vote411’s questions.
For candidates who are already elected officials, you can go to in.wayeo.us, type in your street address, or even just the city you live in, and a list of who your elected officials are will appear on the side with a link to each Federal and State official’s website.
Another resource is ballotpedia.org. You can enter your address, or just your city and state, and a list of candidates who are on your local ballot will be generated. You can then click on which candidate you would like more information about. Some candidates will have even completed a survey for Ballotpedia and have a brief biography available.
Dig deeper at justfacts.votesmart.org to research candidates. You will need to know who is on your ballot, which you can find on indianavoters.in.gov. At Vote Smart, you can enter any candidate’s name and read their bio, voting record (if they have any), their position on certain topics, and much more.
Candidate forums and interviews
Porter County
The Porter County Republican Party is a great source to get to know Republican candidates. You can find more info here: https://www.facebook.com/PorterCountyGOP
You can find more information on Democratic candidates through the Porter County Democrat Party Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/portercountydemocrats/
To find general voting information specific to Porter County, visit https://www.porterco.org/1322/2022-Primary-Election
Lake County
For more information on Democratic candidates within Lake County, visit the Lake County Democratic Central Committee: http://lakecountyindems.org/.
Visit the Lake County Republican Party’s Facebook page for more information and interviews on Republicans running. https://www.facebook.com/thelakecountygop
La Porte County
Stay up to date with La Porte County Republican candidates through the La Porte County Republican Party Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lpcgop
Democrats can find more information on their local Democrat candidates through the La Porte County Democrat Party Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LaPorteCoDems
St. Joseph County
Keep up with the Democratic candidates of St. Joseph County by following the party’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stjoedemocrats
Republican candidate information can be found on the St. Joseph County Republican Party’s Facebook page or at https://www.gopsjc.com.
Elkhart County
Those hoping to get to know the Republican candidates in Elkhart County can check out the party’s Facebook page or visit https://www.elkhartgop.com.
If Democratic candidates are more your speed, visit the Elkhart County Democratic Party Facebook page or https://www.elkhartcountydemocrats.com/home to learn more.
