When Ripley County registered voters head out to cast their ballot during the 2024 elections, they will no longer have to go to the traditional precinct-based polling site on election day. Instead, voters will head to one of nine "Vote Centers" throughout Ripley County on Election Day. Hence, voters are no longer restricted to a designated polling location based on their residence, and there is no longer a wrong place to vote.

The vote centers will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day. The nine locations are:

•Elrod Baptist Washington Life Center, 5496 E US 50, Dillsboro

•Holton Fire Department, 7043 W US 50, Holton

•Knight of Columbus, 624 Delaware Rd, Batesville

•Milan VFW, 107 N Warpath Dr, Milan

•Ripley County Fairgrounds, 424 W Cravens St, Osgood

•Saint Paul Lutheran Church 5869 St Rd 129, Versailles

•Shelby Christian Church, 6675 US 421, Versailles

•Sunman American Legion, 412 E Eastern Ave, Sunman

•Tyson Activity Center, 100 N High St, Versailles

Absentee voting by mail and early voting in the clerk's office 28 days before the election will still be available.

The implementation of the vote centers began with a study committee comprised of voters, poll workers, both party affiliates, and elected officials. 

"We met several times and worked on where the locations would be and how many we should have to start out with, and we came up with a public survey to gauge the public opinion," said Ripley County Clerk Liz Baumgartner. "We had mostly positive feedback from the surveys we did get back."

The election board then held a public meeting and voted unanimously in favor of vote centers to begin in 2024.

"Vote centers add convenience for voters, save counties money, and can increase voter turnout," Baumgartner said.