Voters’ Guide to the 2026 General Election

In the Nov. 3 general election, Vanderburgh County voters are helping choose a new Indiana secretary of state, weighing two proposed amendments to the state constitution, and settling contested races for Congress, the Indiana General Assembly, County Council, township offices, and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation board.

In-person early voting has been open since Oct. 6, and as of Oct. 23, about 11,000 in-person votes had been cast in Vanderburgh County, according to County Clerk Dottie Thomas. She says it’s a larger in-person early voting turnout than the comparable election cycle four years ago. The number of received mailed votes was about 3,000 — that total is down, Thomas says, adding that some voters report a mistrust of the postal service.

Here’s what to know before you head to the polls.

Who’s On the Ballot

The only contested local government race is for County Council District 4, where Republican incumbent and Council President John Montrastelle faces Democrat Jason Jett, a financial adviser. Unopposed on the general election ballot are Democratic Sheriff Noah Robinson; Republican Prosecutor Diana Moers; Republican County Commissioner Justin Elpers (District 2); Republican County Assessor Bill Fluty; Republican County Auditor Theresa Bassemier; Republican County Councilors Jim Raben (District 1) and Tom Shetler Jr. (District 2), and Democrat Nick Iaccarino (District 3); and Superior Court Judge Les C. Shively, who is running as a nonpartisan.

Four of the seven seats on the EVSC board are on the ballot. It is the first EVSC election in which candidates may run with a party affiliation under a new state law. Steven Ary is running as a Republican; all other EVSC candidates filed as nonpartisan. Ary, Alan Wayne Goad, Andy Guarino, and Brian Murphy are challenging at-large incumbent Melissa Moore. Incumbents Mike Duckworth and David Hollingsworth face Ken Colbert and Lindsey Patterson for two District 2 seats. District 1 Trustee Chris Kiefer is unopposed.

Voters in each of the county’s eight townships can select a trustee and three board members on the ballot:

• Armstrong Township: Republican Trustee Nicholas Wildeman and Republican board candidates Angela Kent, Leslie Lawrence, and Dennis Morgan are unopposed.
• Center Township: Republican Trustee Gary Burdsall is unopposed. Board candidates are Republicans Thomas Gant, Thomas Shetler III, and J. Ervin Stafford Stucki, and Democrats Brittany Russell, Tom Shoulders, and Jennifer Zoph.
• German Township: Republican Trustee Beverly White-Rowley faces Democrat Wendy G. Turner. Board candidates are Republicans Cathy Buxton, Curtis Miles, and Jim Werner, and Democrats Joe Allen, Dona Hall, and Valencia Redding.
• Knight Township: Democratic Trustee Kathryn M. Martin is unopposed. Board candidates are Democrats Chris Cooke, Thomas Goodman, and Chris S. Walsh, and Republicans Christopher Politano and John Woodard Jr.
• Perry Township: Democratic Trustee Rick Riney faces Republican Charles B. Coughlin. Board candidates are Republicans John Bassemier, Kyle P. Duggan, and Matt Karges, and Democrats James Eickhoff, Keith Mosby Jr., and Savannah Whicker.
• Pigeon Township: Democratic Trustee Ruby McGlown and Democratic board candidates Shirley Baker, Garnetta Esters, and Connie Robinson are unopposed.
• Scott Township: Republican Trustee Keith Kahre faces Democrat Janet Hollis. Board candidates are Republicans Harold Grossman, Steve O. Jackson, and Patrick Seib, and Democrats Keith Gambill, Cheryl Schultz, and Greg Unfried.
• Union Township: Republican Trustee Joseph E. Steinkamp is unopposed, and Republicans Jeffery Jay Pipken and Chris Winiger are the only candidates for three board seats.

The Eighth District congressional race pits Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Messmer of Jasper, who took office in 2025, against Democrat Mary Allen, an at-large member of the Evansville City Council who won a four-way Democratic primary in May.

Republican State Sen. Jim Tomes of Wadesville, who has represented District 49 since 2010, defeated Brandi Durham Pugh in the May primary and now faces Democrat Cindi Clayton. Republican State Rep. Matt Hostettler is being challenged in District 64 by Democrat Candace Greer. Republican State Rep. Wendy McNamara faces Democratic challenger Logan Patberg in District 76. Democratic State Rep. Alex Burton is unopposed in District 77. Republican State Rep. Tim O’Brien faces Democratic challenger Sally Busby in District 78.

Two proposed amendments to the state constitution also are on the ballot. Public Question 1 would allow courts to deny bail to defendants charged with crimes other than murder or treason if the proof is evident or the presumption is strong, and if the state shows by clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions would reasonably protect the public. Public Question 2 would let city and town court judges live in the county where their court is located or in the closest bordering county, rather than within the city or town itself.

Here is a full list of names on Vanderburgh County’s 2026 general election ballot.

Registration and Absentee Mail-In Voting

Deadlines for voter registration and mail-in absentee ballot applications have passed. Apart from those coming from overseas voters, all completed absentee ballots must be received by the clerk’s office by 6 p.m. Nov. 3. Visit Indiana’s voter portal to learn more.

Early In-Person Voting Centers

Early voting (also known as “absentee voting in person”) ends at noon Nov. 2. In-person voters must bring a current government-issued photo ID to the voting center.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 26-30; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-noon Nov. 2

• EVPL Central Browning Rooms, 200 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Noon-6 p.m. Oct. 26-29; noon-5 p.m. Oct. 30

• EVPL McCollough, 5115 Washington Ave.
• EVPL North Park, 960 Koehler Drive
• EVPL Oaklyn, 3001 Oaklyn Drive
• West Side Christian Church, 1200 N. Red Bank Road

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 31

• Northeast Park Baptist Church, 1215 N. Boeke Road
• Cedar Hall Elementary School, 2100 N. Fulton Ave.

Election Day Voting Centers

All voting centers are open 6 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3:

• Academy for Innovative Studies, 2319 Stringtown Road
• Bethel United Church of Christ, 3029 N. Green River Road
• Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 6400 Oak Hill Road
• Blue Grass Church, 14200 Petersburg Road
• Calvary Temple Assembly of God, 5050 N. First Ave.
• Caze Elementary School, 2013 S. Green River Road
• Cedar Hall Elementary School, 2100 N. Fulton Ave.
• Fairlawn United Methodist Church, 2001 Parker Drive
• Glenwood Leadership Academy, 901 Sweetser Ave.
• McCutchanville Fire House, 9219 Petersburg Road
• Memorial Baptist Church, 605 Canal St.
• Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Ave.
• Northeast Park Baptist Church, 1215 N. Boeke Road
• Plaza Park International Prep Academy, 7301 Lincoln Ave.
• Saint James West United Methodist Church, 3111 Hillcrest Terrace
• Saint Lucas United Church of Christ, 33 W. Virginia St.
• Simpson United Methodist Church, 2201 W. Illinois St.
• Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center, 1901 Lynch Road
• Vanderburgh 4-H Center Activities Building, 210 E. Boonville New Harmony Road
• Washington Square Mall, 4801 Washington Ave.
• West Side Christian Church, 1200 N. Red Bank Road
• Zoar United Church of Christ, 4600 Church Road

For more information, contact the Vanderburgh County Election Office by calling 812-435-5122 or emailing [email protected].