Voting laws in Indiana
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Each state has its own series of election laws. The separation of powers clause in the constitution has largely placed the responsibility for conducting on state governments. Each state has its own election law enforcement agencies, oftentimes part of the executive branch, sometimes a part of the state judiciary. The following are basic guidelines for voting in Indiana. Note: Before taking any action, or if you have any questions, contact your state election agency.
Polling Place Hours
Hours: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Voter Registration Information
Registration Deadlines
30 days before the election
Identification Required for Registration
None, unless you are registering to vote for the first time in Indiana by returning a registration form through the mail. If you register using the mail, you can include a photocopy of a current valid photo ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other document. Whatever document you present must have your name and address printed on the ID. Certain voters, such as military voters, are exempt from this requirement.
How to Check Registration
Visit the Indiana Statewide Voter Registration System website
Voting Information
Identification Required to Vote
Indiana requires residents to present a government-issued photo ID before casting a ballot at the polls on Election Day. Your photo ID must meet 4 criteria to be acceptable for voting purposes. It must:
- Display your photo
- Display your name, and the name must conform to your voter registration record. Conform does not mean identical.
- Display an expiration date and either be current or have expired sometime after the date of the last General Election (November 7, 2006)
- Including Military IDs with expiration date of "INDEF"
- Be issued by the State of Indiana or the U.S. government
In most cases, an Indiana driver license, Indiana photo ID card, Military ID or U.S. Passport is sufficient.
A student ID from an Indiana State school may only be used if it meets all of the 4 criteria specified above. A student ID from a private institution may not be used for voting purposes.
How to Find Your Polling Place
Visit the Indiana Statewide Voter Registration System website
Absentee Voting
Any person eligible to vote in Indiana may vote by absentee ballot in person at the office of the circuit court clerk before Election Day. In order to cast an absentee ballot by mail, an absentee voter must fit into one of the following categories:
- The voter has a specific, reasonable expectation that he or she will be absent from the county on election day during the entire twelve hours that the polls are open;
- The voter will be absent from the precinct of his or her residence on election day due to service as an election official in another precinct;
- Due to the voter's illness or injury, the voter will be confined to a health care facility, hospital, or private residence on election day;
- The voter has a disability;
- The voter is at least sixty-five years of age;
- The voter will be caring for an individual who is confined to a private residence due to illness or injury on election day;
- The voter is scheduled to work at his or her regular place of employment during the entire twelve hours that the polls are open;
- The voter is prevented from voting due to observance of a religious discipline or religious holiday during the entire twelve hours that the polls are open; or
- The voter is a participant in the state's address confidentiality program.
Early Voting
Early voting begins 30 days before the election, and ends one week before the election. Contact your County Election Board for information on locations and times.
Information For People who have Moved or Changed Addresses
- Moving Within the Same Precinct:
- The voter may appear at his or her assigned polling place and make a written or oral affirmation of his or her new address and his or her eligibility to vote in that precinct.
- Moving Between Precincts Within the Same County
- Any registered voter who moves from one precinct to another within the same county and congressional district may vote in an election by going to his or her assigned polling place in the precinct of the former residence and making a written or oral affirmation of the voter's new address
- Moving Between Counties:
- Any registered voter who moves from one county to another county within the state within thirty days of election day may vote at his or her former precinct provided that he or she executes an affidavit and requests a transfer of his or her voter registration
Information for People with Felony Convictions
A person who is:
- convicted of a crime; and
- imprisoned following conviction cannot register to vote until the person is no longer imprisoned or subject to detention.
Interference with voters
Sec. 21.5. A person who knowingly or intentionally intimidates, threatens, or coerces an individual for:
- voting or attempting to vote;
- urging or aiding another individual to vote or attempt to vote; or
- exercising any power or duty under this title concerning registration or voting;
commits voter intimidation, a Class D felony.[1]
Further Reading
This article only highlights important parts of the Indiana Code. If the information you are looking for is not on this page, please look at the Indiana Code available online.
References
See also
- Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002
- State by State Provisional Ballot Laws
- State by State Voter ID Laws
- Recount laws in Arkansas
- Felon vote fraud
- Arkansas election agencies
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