(Phil Scroggs / Unsplash)Voters in Southern Indiana have the chance this year to elect some of the people who have the most direct impact on their daily lives.Ballots in Clark and Floyd counties will include candidates for offices in charge of overseeing county finances, property taxes, infrastruct ure and local jails and courts, though only some of those races are contested.One of them is the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Voters will elect a new sheriff this year, and Democrat Tim Deeringer, Independent Dwight T. Ingle and Republican Kenny Kavanaugh are vying for the spot. Kavanaugh beat Republican incumbent Scottie Maples in the primary.Independent Sandy Basham and Republican Scott Hawkins are running for the Clark County commissioner's seat long held by Republican Bryan Glover, who is not seeking reelection this year.And current Clark County Auditor Danny Yost and Treasurer R. Monty Snelling are looking to switch seats. Three of the four county council seats on this year’s ballots are contested.In Floyd County, Republican incumbent Diana Marie Topping will face Democrat Sharon S. Young for the Auditor’s seat, and Republican Al Knable is hoping to defend his County Commissioners District 1 seat to Democratic challenger Ellen Morrison Kelley.Steve Burks, Republican running for Floyd County Clerk, picked up an opponent last month with Democrat Marcy Wisman, who did not run in the primary election in May. Burks’ wife, Danita Burks, is on her second term as clerk and term-limited from seeking a third.This year’s general election is also the first time school board candidates can run with a party affiliation, following a measure passed by state lawmakers in 2025. Despite the option, most candidates chose nonpartisan.The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 3 and the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 5.County prosecutor and judicial candidates will also be on the November ballots in Clark and Floyd counties. Candidates for those offices register with the state, which has not yet certified the candidacies.The ballots will also include federal and state races, including the state senators and representatives who write Indiana laws.Here’s who’s running:Clark County Clerk Ryan Lynch, Republican incumbentAuditorR. Monty Snelling, RepublicanAntonio Veals, DemocratRecorderSteve Gill, Republican incumbentTreasurer Danny Yost, RepublicanSheriff Tim Deeringer, DemocratDwight T. Ingle, IndependentKenny Kavanaugh Jr., RepublicanSurveyorBrian Dixon, RepublicanAssessor Butch Love, Republican incumbentCounty commissioner, District 3Sandy Basham, IndependentScott Hawkins, RepublicanCounty Council, District 1John Benningfield, RepublicanTeah Williams-Hampton, Democratic incumbentCounty Council, District 2Christian Barrera, DemocratRussell P. Brooksbank, LibertarianRon Grooms, Republican incumbentCounty Council, District 3Brian Lenfert, Republican incumbentCounty Council, District 4Nate Combs, RepublicanChristina Gilkey, DemocratFloyd CountyAuditorDiana Marie Topping, Republican incumbentSharon S. Young, DemocratClerk Steve Burks, RepublicanMarcey Wisman, DemocratSheriffSteve Bush, Republican incumbent Assessor Terry Lee Watson, Republican incumbentCounty Commissioner, District 1Ellen Morrison Kelley, DemocratAl Knable, Republican incumbentCounty Council, District 1 Tony Toran, Democratic incumbentCounty Council District 2Josh Banet, RepublicanCalle Jansen, DemocratCounty Council, District 3Danny Short, Republican incumbentCounty Council, District 4Andy Lemon, Republican School board Borden-Henryville School CorporationAndy Guernsey, at-large, RepublicanKevin Puckett, at-large, nonpartisanClarksville Community Schools Bettye Davis Craig, District 3, nonpartisanApril L. Hauber, District 4, nonpartisanGreater Clark County Schools Margot Davidson, District 1, nonpartisanBrian Jones, District 1, nonpartisanZachary Silverstein, District 1, LibertarianJohn Buckwalter, District 3, nonpartisanTamara “Tammy” Yenawine Mustain, District 4, nonpartisanSilver Creek School CorporationJoseph W. “Joe” Basham, at-large, IndependentKristy Franklin, at-large, nonpartisanNew Albany Floyd County Consolidated School CorporationConnie Baugh, at-large, RepublicanHeather Naville-Cooley, at-large, nonpartisanBrad Striegel, at-large, nonpartisanThad Lewis Neafus, at-large, RepublicanMelanie Stumler Northup, District 1, nonpartisanSteve Morris, District 2, IndependentLee Ann Wiseheart, District 2, nonpartisanCoverage of Southern Indiana is funded, in part, by Samtec Inc., the Hazel Walter T. Bales Foundation, and the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County. ...read more read less