Indiana Rural Summit aims to increase voter turnout

Source: Indiana Rural Summit / IRS

JASPER — The Indiana Rural Summit is a group of nine Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives seeking support from rural voters in the Hoosier State.

These nine candidates would represent 24% of Indiana in 22 counties. They are visiting these areas with a message to improve health care, schools and jobs in small towns. They are specifically trying to reach voters in districts with uncontested races.

“The continued policies of extraction and exploitation of our legislature have left us behind and silenced. Our current state representatives prioritize corporate lobbyists and outside influencers over Hoosiers. We want legislators who understand our concerns and refuse to sell us out. We want a state that works for all of us, not just the wealthy few. We all want to live in communities that thrive,” said Ryan Still, deputy director of Monroe County Rural Engagement and organizer of the Indiana Rural Summit.

The nine candidates are:

– Kurtis Cummings, House District 46 (Vigo/Clay/Owen/Monroe Counties)

– Michael Potter, House District 47 (Johnson/Shelby Counties)

–Michelle Higgs, House District 60 (Monroe/Morgan/Johnson County)

–Thomas Horrocks, House District 62 (Monroe/Brown Counties)

– Teresa Kendall, House District 63 (Davies/Martin/Pike/Dubois County)

– Jennifer David, House District 66 (Scott/Jefferson/Clark Counties)

– Trish Whitcomb, House District 69 (Bartholomew/Jackson/Scott/Washington counties)

– Sarah Blessing, House District 70 (Harrison/Floyd/Clark/Washington Counties)

– Hollie Payton, House District 73 (Shelby/Bartholomew/Decatur/Jennings Counties)

The Indiana Rural Summit is going on a six-stop tour of the state to reach potential voters. The first stop is in Jasper at their Strassenfest. They will be there to support Teresa Kendall’s bid for the House District 63 seat.

The Rural Summit press release says Indiana has the lowest voter turnout in the country. It also has a large number of uncontested races with 26 seats in the House of Representatives currently uncontested. They believe that by having voters in gerrymandered districts, more voters will turn out.