Gallery: Primary 2020 in Monroe County

June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: Mike Leonard, right, prepares to cast his ballot at City Hall on Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)

Polling sites in Monroe County were consolidated to 7 sites for the 2020 presidential election year primary during a nationwide uprising, and a pandemic. Millions of Americans remain unemployed, some are food insecure, and in the coming weeks, thousands will find themselves newly homeless when evicted.

According to Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne, at least 7,041 voters turned out in person on election day, and another 1,981 did so between May 26, and May 26.


“My team and I continue to push ahead with the processing of ballots but it is highly unlikely that any results will be available tonight. The ramifications of overseeing an election during a pandemic notwithstanding, our seasoned and veteran poll workers are getting their learning curve on new voting equipment and electronic poll books. Only half of the bipartisan absentee teams are being used then were used in the 2016 Primary (to allow for social distancing at Election Central) and teams were split into two shifts to assist with mailed ballots,” said Browne.

The Coronavirus pandemic delayed the Indiana Primary by weeks, and neither Republican President Donald J. Trump nor his presumptive Democratic challenger, Joe Biden has been to the state to campaign. In 2016 a contested primary made the state international news, and Indiana helped Trump win the GOP nomination.

United States President Trump was in Washington D.C. Monday night doing a photo opp holding bible after protesters were dispersed from near a church with tear gas. He told governors to get tougher with protesters and threatened to send the United States military to fight against the American people on the streets of their own country. Trump had said earlier he was a friend of peaceful protesters.


Trump said Monday, “The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.”

Biden made a speech from Philadelphia, Tuesday, eschewing travel to Indiana, and not mentioning the state at all.
“I can’t breathe.” “I can’t breathe.”
George Floyd’s last words. But they didn’t die with him. They’re still being heard. They’re echoing across this nation,” said Biden.


After polls closed in the Monroe County protesters were again gathered on the steps of the Monroe County Courthouse and soon took the streets as they have done every night since last weekend. Many passed making a fist, and honked their horns in solidarity, joining a popular rebellion.

But, not all agree with the protesters, Monday night a man in a gray truck, with a Trump flag attached to the bed drove through the protesters in the moments the police had not blocked the streets yet to protect the protesters. As protesters surrounded the truck, the driver displayed a handgun, pointing it toward the ceiling of his vehicle, and protesters tore the Trump flag, and the American flag from his truck, as he, and another white man, sped away. Over the weekend another motorist plowed through the protesters blocking the street slightly injuring one, and another man, without a current driver’s license tried to drive through the protesters last week.


The ballots were counted and election results made available Wednesday.


Local residents socially distanced at the seven polling sites, and some cordially stood in line waiting to vote. A few reported to the Bloomingtonian they had to go to several polling sites before they could vote without filling out paperwork, but they made it before polls closed. One woman was in tears when she arrived, but she voted. She said it was the third poll site she’d been to.


Poll workers wore personal protective equipment as they worked during a pandemic that has already killed more Americans than the Vietnam War and WWI combined. The virus often kills older Americans, and many of the poll workers are older.


The American election to select the next president is November 3, 2020.


Protesters will gather in Dunn Meadow Friday at 3 p.m. to demand they are heard, and demand justice for George Floyd.


It has been said many times, “All politics are local.”

June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: Hand sanitizer is available for voters Edgewood High School on Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Ellettsville, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: KN95 masks to protect against COVID-19 are available for voters at Edgewood High School during Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Ellettsville, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: A vote here sign near a line of voters at Grandview Elementary School on Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: A sign on a table reminds voters to social distance at Grandview Elementary School on Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: Poll workers wearing PPE assist a voter at Grandview Elementary School on Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: A voter holds her child while getting instructions on voting at City Hall on Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: A poll worker wears a shield to protect against COVID-19 at City Hall on Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: A poll worker sanitizes a table after helping a voter at Edgewood High School during Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Ellettsville, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: A woman votes at Grandview Elementary School on Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: A poll worker helps a voter at Edgewood High School during Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Ellettsville, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
June 2, 2020 – Bloomington, Indiana USA: Worker picks up Vote Here signs after polls closed at Grandview Elementary School on Indiana Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind. (Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)

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