Voter turnout in Indianapolis municipal primary is the highest since 2011

Voter turnout in this year's Indianapolis primary election was the highest it's been since 2011, but it was still quite low.

In total, 78,237 voters cast ballots in this year's municipal primary election, or 12.5% of registered voters. By comparison, about 8% of registered voters cast ballots in the 2015 and 2019 primaries.

Voter turnout increased 45% over the 2019 primary election, according to the Marion County Election Board. Early voter turnout was more than four times higher this year than in the last municipal primary election, with 15,566 people voting early.

This year, 62,671 voters came to the polls on primary Election Day, compared to 49,879 in 2019.

More:Hogsett, Shreve win Indianapolis mayoral primaries

Experts told IndyStar the great diversity of candidates in the mayoral election, which was the most racially diverse pool this century, likely increased voter turnout, as well as the end of slating, which ended political parties' ability to gatekeep who could run in a primary election.

Another factor that played a role in boosting turnout is Marion County's 2019 move to vote centers. For the first time in 2019, voters could cast ballots at any polling location instead of assigned neighborhood precincts, making early voting more convenient and thus expanding it.

"I do think that plays a role and if all things were equal, we’d expect over several election cycles people get used to seeing that as an alternative," University of Indianapolis political expert Laura Wilson told IndyStar.

Contact IndyStar reporter Ko Lyn Cheang at kcheang@indystar.com or 317-903-7071. Follow her on Twitter: @kolyn_cheang.