Matt Purdy, left, gets signed in to vote at Christ’s Covenant Church in Winona Lake on Tuesday, May 2. At the table are Election Clerks Jeanna Hann, center, and Sherry VanKirk.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — Five hundred and nine voters cast ballots in the 2023 Winona Lake primary election.

That’s about 15% of the 3,455 registered voters in the town.

The majority of this year’s primary voters cast their ballots on Election Day, Tuesday, May 2, at the vote center at Christ’s Covenant Church.

Election Inspector Lynn Howie did say about early Tuesday afternoon that people had steadily come in.

“We’ve had people in line waiting, but not for more than a couple minutes; whereas in the last election, there were tons of people (waiting) forever,” she said. “We probably have not had more than five or six people waiting, so that’s been good.”

Some of the busier times were around 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Voters chose current Winona Lake Ward 4 Councilwoman Heather James in the GOP race for clerk-treasurer over incumbent Laurie Renier by a margin of 346 votes to 163 or 67.98% to 32.02%.

In the other Winona Lake races, all non-contested and with candidates being all Republicans, the vote totals were: 412 votes for incumbent Ward 1 Councilman Austin Reynolds; 399 votes for incumbent Ward 2 Councilwoman Ashley McGinnis; and 418 votes for Barry Andrew, who was seeking James’ Ward 4 council seat.

Poll Workers

Regarding future elections in Kosciusko County, Howie told InkFreeNews that poll workers are always needed.

“It’s really hard because nobody volunteers, and we’d like for them to volunteer,” she said.

Howie noted workers get paid between $130-$170 depending on their role, which includes a meal allowance. The only requirement for workers, whether Republicans or Democrats, is that they be registered voters.

To inquire about being a poll worker in the future, people should contact Kosciusko County Democratic Party Chair Vicki Morton at (708) 921-2718 or [email protected] if they wish to be Democratic poll workers or Kosciusko County GOP Chair Mike Ragan at (574) 265-1430 or [email protected] if they wish to be Republican ones.

Lisa Hershberger poses for the camera before casting her vote.

Poll workers at Christ’s Covenant Church were from left: Front — Election Clerk Jeanna Hann, Election Clerk Sherry VanKirk and Election Inspector Lynn Howie; back — Election Judge Dennis Allison and Election Judge Kathy Keirn.