It has been a Hamilton County tradition for a long time.  On election night, political candidates and others with an interest in election results come to downtown Noblesville to view the election returns in the same meeting room used by the county commissioners and the county council.

There have been some very late nights that went well into the next morning to come up with final results, particularly in presidential election years.  But the media and other interested parties knew they could stay until the votes were counted.

In this year’s primary election, postponed to June 2nd due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new relaxation in the rules for people eligible for an absentee ballot will likely result in a pile of paper absentee ballots to be counted.

According to a story appearing in the May 23 edition of the Hamilton County Reporter, County Clerk Kathy Williams says public viewing of election results will take place in Halls A and B of the Exhibit Building at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. Doors open at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2.  Display screens will be placed at each end of the halls. Several round tables and enough chairs that will be available and properly spaced, per social separation guidelines.

But the Fairgrounds facility may be in use the next day, or perhaps even until Thursday.

“If we still have absentee ballots left to count, we’ll complete those Wednesday,” County Clerk Kathy Williams said. “We will reopen Halls A and B Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. if necessary. If mail-in ballot processing carries over to Thursday, the public watch area will reopen again at 8:30 a.m.”

Under Indiana law, the deadline to certify election results is noon, June 12.