The Hamilton County Elections Office in Noblesville and Fishers-based Hamilton Southeastern Schools are fielding questions about HSE’s special election date next week.

Confused voters think the election is Tuesday, which would be the normal election day, but it’s Nov. 10 instead, said Kathy Richardson, elections administrator.

The Nov. 10 date was set because the county certified the school district’s special election Aug. 6, and the election must be at least 90 days after the certification.

HSE is asking voters to approve a property tax increase for the next seven years to help the district pad its dwindling operating budget.

So far, not many people have voted early, Richardson said.

Nearly 280 have voted so far, but that’s still significantly less than the 500 who voted early for Noblesville Schools’ special election in January and more people are eligible to vote in HSE’s election, she said. Richardson expects to get more ballots this week.

HSE Superintendent Brian Smith is not surprised that so few people have voted because only one issue is on the ballot, HSE spokeswoman Marianna Richards said.

“We are guardedly optimistic,” Smith said in a statement he gave Richards. “We continue to answer questions and do what we can to get the vote out.”

Registered voter who live in the HSE district can vote from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 10 at their normal polling sites unless notified otherwise.