Voter Registration - ID Requirement - Acceptable Forms of ID - Early Voting - Absentee Voting - Provisional Voting - Sample Ballots - Primary System

Secretary of State
Indian-Election Division
302 West Washington Street
Room E-204
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone: (317) 232-3939
Fax: n/a
Email: elections@iec.state.in.us
Web: http://www.in.gov/sos/

Voter Registration
Qualifications for voter registration:

• You are both a U.S. citizen and a resident of Indiana; and
• You will be at least 18 years of age on or before the next General or Municipal Election, and
• You are not currently in prison after being convicted of a crime; and
• You have lived in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election; and
• You are registered to vote.
  

Download: Any qualified person can register to vote by downloading the Voter Registration Form, return the completed form to your County's Election Division office or the Indiana Election Division 29 days prior to the General Election. You can also apply in person at the voter registration or county clerk's office, any Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) license branch or public assistance office.

In person or by mail: Any qualified person may also register in their County Voter Registration office or circuit court clerk office, any license branch or public assistance office.

First-time voters: Please note that first-time voters must provide a COPY of proof of identification and residence with their registration application when they register by mail. A "first-time" voter is an individual who is voting in an election in the state of Indiana for the first time. Please note that first-time voters
are required to present additional documentation to the county voter registration office that confirms the residence address of the voter. See below for acceptable ID Requirement.

Close of Registration: Voter registration is closed 29 days before an election.

ID Requirement
Photo ID is required of all voters casting a ballot in person. There are exceptions for certain confined voters and voters casting absentee ballots by mail. Acceptable forms of ID include: driver's license, passport, military ID or picture ID from the bureau of motor vehicles. The criteria for acceptable ID include:

Acceptable Forms of ID Voters are not required to show identification when registering to vote. However, if you are a first time voter who registered by mail, you may be required to provide additional documentation that matches the address on your voter registration record. However, this does not apply if you submitted an application at a license branch or other voter registration agency.

You may present any of the following types of documents to meet the requirement:

• Indiana driver's license
• Indiana state identification card, with your current name and address
  

NOTE: An Indiana driver's license or Indiana state identification card may meet both the photo ID requirement and the valid and current address requirement.
However, to meet the additional document requirement, you only need to present a document that contains a matching name and current address to the poll list.

• Any other current and valid photo ID that contains your current name and address
• A current utility bill with your current name and address
• A bank statement with your current name and address
• A government check with your current name and address
• A paycheck with your current name and address
• Other government documents that show your current name and address
  

If a voter is unable or unwilling to present ID meeting these requirements, he or she may cast a provisional ballot. If you cast a provisional ballot, you have until noon 10 days after the election to follow up with the county clerk's office and either provide the necessary documentation or affirm one of the law's exemptions applies to you.

Early Voting In Person (open)
Who can vote early in person: All registered voters in Indiana are eligible to vote absentee-in-person at the county election board office beginning 29 days before Election Day

When can a person vote early in person: In-person early voting can be done at your Board of Elections beginning 29 days before Election Day and no later than 12:00 pm on the day before Election Day.

Absentee Voting (restricted)
Who can apply for an absentee ballot by mail
In order to vote absentee-by-mail, one of the following must apply:

• Have a specific, reasonable expectation that you will be absent from your county of residence on Election Day during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open (6:00 am to 6:00 pm)
• Are an election official
• Are confined on Election Day due to illness or injury during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open
• Are a voter with disabilities
• Are 65 years of age or older
• Are caretakers of an individual(s) confined to a private residence due to illness or injury and prevented from voting during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open
• Are scheduled to work for the entire 12 hours that the poll is open
• Are prevented from voting due to observing a religious discipline or holiday during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open
• Participate in the address confidentiality program
  

Note: Voters voting absentee-by-mail are NOT required to show photo ID. In order to vote absentee-by-traveling board, one of the following must apply:

• The voter expects to be confined, due to illness or injury, or the voter expects to be caring for a confined person at a private residence, on Election Day.
• The voter is a voter with disabilities and believes their polling place is not accessible to them.
• The ballot will be delivered to you by a bi-partisan absentee voter oard who will be able to assist you with you ballot.
• Voters voting by traveling board are NOT required to show photo ID

How to request an absentee ballot by mail: Voters may download the Application for Absentee Ballot, complete the form and mail it to the county where you are registered to vote or to the Indiana Election Division. Submit your application for an absentee ballot at least eight days before the election. Contact your county clerks offices for any further information.

* Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Military and Overseas Voters Guide.

When to Return Absentee Ballot: The completed ballot must be received by the county clerk's office no later than Election Day so that it can be delivered to the polling place by 6pm.

Note: Return the sealed absentee ballot in a timely manner in order for the county clerk's office to count the vote.

Provisional Voting (in precinct)
A "provisional ballot" can be considered a temporary ballot. Federal law provides for voters whose eligibility is in question to cast a ballot. A provisional ballot is not counted until voter eligibility can be determined by Election officials. If you believe you are registered to vote in a precinct, but your name does not appear on the poll list, or if you have been challenged as not qualified to vote in your precinct, you will cast a "provisional ballot." A provisional ballot permits the voter to vote on Election Day. However, your provisional ballot will be kept separate from the other ballots cast in that precinct. After Election Day, the county election board will decide if you were qualified to vote in that precinct, and if your ballot should be counted. You will be able to contact your county election board to find out if your ballot was counted, and if not, why not.

Sample Ballots
Provision of sample ballots may vary by county. Sample ballots are available through your local elections office prior to the election and are usually printed in the local newspaper. In addition, sample ballots will be posted at your polling place on Election Day.

Primary System (Open)

Indiana uses an open primary system, meaning that on Primary Election Day voters are able to request the ballot of the party of their choice. Voters are not "registered" as either a Republican or Democrat. However, the type of ballot the voter requested in the Primary is public record.

Voters can be challenged for switching party affiliation at the polls. If challenged, and after completing the PRE-6 challenged voter's affidavit, the voter will be issued the regular ballot of that party.