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Young woman holding a sign that says 'VOTE'

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A man casts his vote for midterm general

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@kwellscomm  TLCNaptown.com News —

Good day to you on this Election Day 2016. (Remember to tune-in to the stations of WTLC (106.7-FM & AM-1310 “The Light”) tonight for Election Night 2016 coverage! We’ll be on top of the results and the stories of the evening as our team hits the streets from our downtown studios of Radio One – to both of the political parties headquarters in downtown. We’ll have coverage along with great music to get you through what’s set to be a dramatic night. It all begins at 6 p.m.) 

There is NO class today for students of Indianapolis Public Schools. If you need childcare, because you want to head to the polls without taking them, or you still have to work today, contact the closest YMCA location. Many are providing childcare today for a nominal fee. Some of the locations include: Avondale: 3908 Meadows Drive; Benjamin Harrison: 5736 Lee Road, 317-547-9622; Irsay Family: 430 S. Market Street; Jordan: 8400 Westfield Boulevard, 317-253-3206; Ransburg: 501 N. Shortridge Road; and Whitham Family: 2791 N. Lebanon Street, Lebanon, 765-483-9622

Voting

Source: erhui1979 / Getty

Before voters head out to the polls today, election officials urge them to verify their registration and their polling site. Click HERE to go to IndianaVoters.com. It is the website to use to make verifications and gather info. There, voters can enter their county of residence, name and date of birth and it will provide them with their registration and location to cast their ballots. It will also allow voters to check the candidates and issues that will appear on their ballot.

Remember voters need photo identification to cast a ballot at their polling site. If ID is needed, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is open today to provide them until 6 p.m.

US-VOTE-DEMOCRATS-CLINTON

Source: EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ / Getty

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Manchester NH

Source: The Washington Post / Getty

The polls opened at 6 a.m. across this state, except for in about 12 counties that observe Central Time, so that put them one hour behind. This day brings an end to one of the longest, nastiest and most expensive presidential campaigns in memory. But we don’t know if by the time the votes are counted whether it will bring an end to the nastiness that has surfaced in the nation. The presidential candidates are casting their ballots along with millions of other Americans today. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has voted at a school in Chappaqua, New York–arriving there with her husband, former-President Bill Clinton. Republican Donald Trump is casting his ballot today at a school in Midtown Manhattan.

Tim Kaine campaigns for Hillary Clinton in Charlotte

Source: Anadolu Agency / Getty

US-VOTE-REPUBLICANS-TRUMP

Source: MANDEL NGAN / Getty

The veeps are also busy. Senator Tim Kaine was up early this morning casting his vote. The Democratic vice presidential nominee stopped by his polling station in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife, where doors will be open until 7 p.m. this evening. Governor Mike Pence is back here in Indiana today to do the same—cast his ballot. Pence Tweeted at 11:35 p.m., “Landed in Indy in time for Election Day. Great to be Back Home Again!” He’ll later take off later to join Trump for the duties of this busy day.

Businessman using laptop in coffee shop

NO TEXTING VOTES Source: Hero Images / Getty

An investigation is underway after text messages were sent to Indiana voters with the wrong polling information. The Marion County Clerk’s Office says it received several reports Monday. The Indiana Democratic Party is blaming the error on a glitch in its text message program. A spokesman told The Indianapolis Star, less than 2,000 voters were likely affected and a new message was sent directing them to indianavoters.com to confirm their polling location.

And, to address a non-related texting issue…You cannot text your vote in and have it count. You must head to your poll. Authorities are looking into a series of text messages that have been sent to voters urging them to cast their ballot by text message. Those text were sent largely to minority voters who tend to be Democrats and voters in poorer districts. Be warned you cannot text a vote in this critical election.

In addition to the presidential race, voters here in Indiana will also decide between Republican Eric Holcomb, Democrat John Gregg and third-party candidate Rex Bell for governor. Indiana also has very tight race for the U.S. Senate between Republican Todd Young, Democrat Evan Bayh and Libertarian Lucy Brenton. They are all vying for the seat being vacated by Dan Coats. Democratic incumbent Glenda Ritz is running to keep her post as state superintendent of public instruction but is facing a challenge from Republican Jennifer McCormick.

Voters across Indiana are deciding more than just those races today. There is a widely discussed transit referendum that’s on the ballot seeking a funding stream through a tax specifically for IndyGo which they will use to pay for increased and new service for transportation here in Marion County. But, less known is the state’s Right to Hunt question that also appears on the ballot. Supporters say the state needs constitutional protections for hunting and fishing. Nineteen other states already have Right to Hunt laws.

There’s an important school board race for Indianapolis Public Schools that appears on the ballot today. But there’s now a twist with a seated member on the school board. LaNier Echols announced her resignation Monday, saying she wants to spend more time with her family. The District Five representative has served since 2014. The IPS Board of School Commissioners will now have 30-days to fill her seat.

The Justice Department says it will be monitoring polls in 28 states. The department’s Civil Rights Division will deploy more than 500 monitors to 67 jurisdictions in 28 states as people continue their march to the polls for today’s general election. State and local governments have the primary responsibility for conducting elections, but the Civil Rights Division is responsible for enforcing federal voting rights laws.

The federal government is also prepared to protect today’s presidential election from a cyber attack.  The Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, and other intelligence agencies will have their cyber centers on alert. Extra staff will be looking for any possible threats.

This after word comes that here in Indiana, Madison County officials are still working feverishly to locate their important files and critical documents after hackers cracked their system, breaking in and stealing information critical to the county’s operations on Friday. Fox 59 says the hackers are also demanding a large ransom to release info. The station reports the County’s IT Department Director, Lisa Cannon, says her team is now working with the County’s cyber insurance company and following their lead –noting that paying the ransom is still very much on the table. “We are in the discretion of the insurance company. That’s a decision they’re going to make.” Madison County officials say the hack does not affect today’s general election across the county.

Other Headlines…

It’s official. Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin is leaving Indiana. The newly appointed cardinal has been assigned by Pope Francis to lead the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Newark is one of the largest Archdioceses in the country. Tobin will replace outgoing Archbishop John Myers who has been criticized for his handling of sex abuse cases and for lavish spending on his retirement home. Tobin will be elevated to cardinal this month and starts in Newark in January.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is condemning what he calls ethnically-tinged language directed against Black Lives Matter protesters as they marched in the wake of a police shooting there of an Indianapolis man. Protesters took to the streets Sunday in the mostly white police and fire enclave of Mount Greenwood, where on Saturday a street confrontation ended in the police shooting of a black, 25-year-old man named Joshua Beal. Beal was apparently armed, but didn’t fire. The demonstrators were met by racial insults and signs from neighborhood residents. Mayor Emanuel says they went too far. He said you can have a protest and make your views known without language that demonizes anybody for their race, their ethnicity and the culture. He called what happened Sunday “unacceptable.” The shooting is under investigation and Beal’s family wants answers. Beal was in Chicago to attend the funeral of one of his relatives.

Jury selection in the trial of the accused deadly Charleston, South Carolina church shooter is being put off until Wednesday. A federal judge put the selection process on hold Monday so he could have a closed-door hearing with alleged mass killer Dylann Roof and his defense team. Roof is charged with shooting nine parishioners, now known as the ‘Emanuel Nine,’ during a Bible study at the historically black ‘Mother’ Emanuel AME church in Charleston in June of last year. Roof is a self-described white supremacist and is facing both state and federal charges.

In Sports…

The Hornets used a balanced attack led by Kemba Walker’s double-double to roll past the Pacers 122-100 on the road in Charlotte. Indiana was paced by C.J. Miles with 23 off the bench in the losing effort.  Myles Turner led the starters with 12 points as the Pacers fell to 3-and-4. The Pacers next take on a  winless Sixers.  The Philly squad will be here in Indy for a 7:00 p.m. Eastern tip off from Bankers Life Fieldhouse downtown.

Election Day Weather…

Today: Cloudy with rain developing this afternoon. High: 62 degrees.

Tonight: Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight.  Slight chance of a rain shower. Low: 42 degrees.

Vote, Vote, Vote! Problems at the polls…call 866-Our-Vote and join us back here on-air for live coverage throughout the evening and wonderful music…on Election Night 2016. It gets started at 6 p.m. Eastern.

#(@1067WTLC)#

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