Local whiskey bar hosts non-partisan voter registration station

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Indiana Whiskey Company invited any and all across St. Joseph County for an evening of free food, drinks and voter registration, ahead of Indiana’s Oct. 7 voter registration deadline.

With food and drinks, computers to register to vote and check registration, and representatives and candidates from across St. Joseph County, this non-partisan event was an opportunity to come together as a county, despite political differences.

Owner and founder of the Indiana Whiskey Company, Charles Florance, explained he hosted this event to ensure St. Joseph County’s voter registration and voter turnout is higher than in the last general election.

“Part of it is I want to make sure both voter registration and then voter turnout stays high. In the last general election, our voter turnout in this county was pretty low and every year that we have an election, Indiana Whiskey Company likes to at least incentivize voting,” stated Florance.

He went on to explain that in part, tonight’s event was a celebration of civic duty, saying it created an opportunity for more voices to be heard in the upcoming election.

“The democratic process isn’t always an easy one or it’s not always a straightforward one, but what’s nice is, when you all get together and everybody’s voice is heard, at least we can make legislative processes and executive processes reflective of the people’s will,” said Florance.