When is the Indiana voter registration deadline?
Your application must be received, completed online, or postmarked no later than 29 days before Election Day. You must sign, mail, and deliver the paper forms to your voter registration officials in person on or before the statewide voter registration deadline.
Your Voting Rights in Indiana
Indiana Voter’s Bill of Rights and federal laws protect your right to cast a ballot without intimidation or obstruction. Whether you are voting in person or by mail, you have the right to:
- Vote privately, without anyone watching or directing how you mark your ballot
- Receive assistance from a person of your choosing (other than your employer or union representative) if you have a disability or are unable to read and write
- Remain in line and cast your vote if you are in line before polls close at 6 p.m. (Indiana Code sets the polling hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m)
- Cast a provisional ballot if there is any question about your eligibility, your ID, or your registration
- Be free from intimidation, threats, or coercion at or near the polls
These rights are grounded in both the Indiana Voter‘s Bill of Rights and federal protections under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
If you believe your rights have been violated, you can contact the Secretary of State and Indiana Election Division at (866) 461-8683 or the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division at (800) 253-3931. You can also seek legal advice from a civil rights attorney near you.
How do I request an absentee ballot in Indiana?
Absentee ballots are issued to Indiana voters who:
- Expect to be away from their voting precinct on Election Day
- Have a disability
- Are 65 or older
- Have official election duties outside of their voting precinct
- Will be working during the 12 hours the polls are open
- Are confined due to illness or injury
- Are prevented from voting for religious reasons
- Participate in the state’s address confidentiality program
- Are in the military
- Are classified as a serious sex offender
- Cannot vote because there is no available transportation going to the polling place
Other eligibility may apply.
In-Person Absentee Voting
Indiana state law mandates that counties provide in-person absentee voting for 28 days before election day, ending at noon the day before the election. All counties must also offer in-person absentee voting on two Saturdays immediately preceding the election.
Vote Absentee by Mail
A voter who wishes to vote by absentee ballot by mail should complete an application for an absentee ballot by mail before each election. The county election official should receive the application on or before 11:59 p.m. local time, 12 days before election day.
The state or county clerk must have the voter registration application on or before the deadline. If they receive your application after the deadline, they cannot process it.
Voter registration for college students involves making a choice. They can register at either the address where they reside during school or at their address when not attending school, but not both.
What ID requirements apply when I apply for absentee voting?
As of July 1, 2023, Indiana voters applying for absentee ballots need to provide either a photocopy of an ID card that complies with the photo ID law of the state or one or more of the following voter identification numbers:
- An Indiana driver’s license number or an Indiana identification card number
- A unique voter ID number is assigned to the voter’s registration record
- The last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number
If you have questions about the requirements, check the Indiana Secretary of State website.
What do I need to bring to the polls in Indiana?
Even if registered to vote, you must present a government-issued ID at the polling place. Under Indiana Code, your photo ID should meet four criteria for it to be acceptable:
- It must show your photo
- Your photo ID must show your name, which must match the one on your voter registration record
- It must show an expiration date, with exceptions provided for the U.S. Department of Defense, branches of uniformed services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or a Native American Indian tribe
- It should be issued by the U.S. government or the state of Indiana
Examples of acceptable ID include:
- Valid Indiana driver’s license or Indiana state identification card
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. Military ID
You may cast a provisional ballot if you don’t have an acceptable ID.
As of July 2025, Indiana no longer accepts student IDs issued by colleges or universities as valid voter identification. These changes were enacted through Senate Bill 10 (2025). If you previously relied on a student ID to vote, you will need another form of identification.
What if I don’t have an acceptable ID?
Do not leave the polling place without voting. If you cannot present a qualifying photo ID, you still have the right to cast a provisional ballot. Indiana Code gives voters the right to cast a vote, even if they don’t have a valid form of ID with them.
After casting a provisional ballot, you have until noon on the 10th day after the election to visit your county election board. You must either show your valid photo ID or execute an affidavit confirming that one of the law’s exemptions applies to you. Those exemptions cover voters who cannot afford an ID, those with a religious objection to being photographed, and those living in a state-licensed care facility that serves as their precinct’s polling place.
If you need an ID but do not have one, you can get a free Indiana state ID through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The county election board will review your provisional ballot and count it if you are eligible.
What special accommodations are available?
All of Indiana’s polling places have at least one accessible voting machine and accommodations for disabled voters. These accommodations include:
- Parking areas that are sufficient for disabled parking
- An accessible route from the parking area to the entrance to the facility
- Touchscreen voting machines and magnifying devices
Voters who need special assistance or have mobility issues can vote on Election Day with a relative or friend to assist them. If the voter does not have anyone else to assist them, poll workers from each political party will help. The person assisting the voter should complete an affidavit available at the polling place.
What should I know about my rights at the polls?
Indiana and federal law both protect your right to vote free from pressure, intimidation, and interference. Under Indiana Code, the following are prohibited within 50 feet of a polling place entrance:
- Campaigning for any candidate or ballot question
- Displaying political signs, banners, or literature
- Wearing or displaying items that promote a candidate, political party, or ballot question, including clothing, buttons, pins, stickers, hats, or placards
This applies to voters, poll workers, and poll watchers alike. If you arrive wearing a campaign item, poll workers may ask you to remove or cover it. You can still vote if you refuse, but you may face a criminal complaint. Violating this law is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a maximum of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Who else may be at the polls?
On Election Day, you may notice people at the polling place who are not voting. Knowing who they are and what they are allowed to do can help you feel more confident about the process.
Poll Watchers
Political parties and independent candidates for federal or state office may send poll watchers. Each watcher must be appointed in writing and carry a signed identification card at the polls. It is important to note that poll watchers are merely there to observe. They cannot approach you, speak to you, or interfere with your ability to cast a vote.
Armed individuals and federal agents
It is a federal crime for any person in civil, military, or naval service of the United States to station troops or armed personnel at an election site, except when they are present to protect voters from armed enemies of the United States. Violations carry a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. This covers persons in civil, military, or naval federal service, including federal law enforcement officers such as ICE agents. Any armed individual, whether a government official or a private citizen, who acts to intimidate voters may still face prosecution.
A court may authorize unarmed federal observers to monitor polling operations, but only when the Attorney General or an aggrieved person has filed a proceeding to enforce the voting guarantees of the 14th or 15th Amendment and the court finds that observer appointments are necessary to uphold those protections. In either case, federal observers have no authority to enforce laws or question voters.
What does voter intimidation look like?
Federal law makes it a crime to intimidate, threaten, or coerce anyone to interfere with their right to vote or their choice of candidate. Intimidation of voters carries a fine, up to one year in prison, or both.
Examples of voter intimidation include:
- Following or surveilling voters as they approach a polling place
- Aggressively questioning voters about their citizenship or eligibility
- Spreading false information about voting locations or requirements
- Displaying weapons near a polling place in a way designed to cause fear
- Physically blocking someone from entering a polling place
These protections cover voters and anyone helping them cast a ballot.
What should I do if I see something illegal at the polls?
If you see or experience anything that seems illegal at the polls or have complaints about an election official, you should report it.
Notify the Indiana Secretary of State if you:
- Witness a crime such as voter fraud or intimidation
- Believe an election official broke the law or abused their discretion
- Experienced a violation of the Help America Vote Act
You can report suspected voter intimidation directly to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Voting Section by calling 800-253-3931 or submitting a complaint online at civilrights.justice.gov. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or by submitting a tip at tips.fbi.gov, as directed by the DOJ’s voter intimidation guidance.
You can also contact an attorney experienced in voting laws if you feel your voting rights have been violated.
POLLING PLACE FINDER
