Indiana voting guide:

The voting process

There are often just as many questions about how the voting process works as there are about who to vote for.

We've gathered some of the most popular questions we've received and tried to answer them. But if you have more questions, submit them in the question box below:

Looking for a printable version of this FAQ? Click here to open a PDF in a new tab to print.

What do I need on Election Day?

You need a photo ID.

Under Indiana’s 2005 voter ID law, your photo identification must meet four criteria: it must display your photo, your name (though, it doesn’t have to be a perfect match), an expiration date and either be current or have expired sometime after the date of the last General Election, and issued by the state of Indiana or the U.S. government.

There are a handful of photo IDs that fall into those categories. An Indiana driver’s license, a U.S. passport, Indiana State Identification Card, or military ID card all work. And student IDs at Indiana state colleges and universities may also work – as long as they follow the rest of the criteria. However, students at private institutions may not use student IDs for voting.

Who is eligible to vote in Indiana?

There are a few qualifications to vote in Indiana. First and foremost, you must be both a U.S. citizen and a resident of Indiana. Additionally, you must be 18 years old on or before the general election in November – which means 17-year-olds can vote in the primary as long as they’re 18 before Nov. 8, 2022.

People who are currently in prison after being convicted of a crime cannot vote in Indiana. But their voting rights are restored upon release. And you have to have lived in the precinct you’re voting in for at least 30 days before the election.

Finally, you have to be registered to vote.

How do you register to vote?

The easiest way: go to IndianaVoters.com. The Indiana Secretary of State runs the site, and allows you to register to vote, update address information, check your registration and find your polling place on this website.

The deadline to register to vote in Indiana is Oct. 11, 2022.

But you also must have a valid Indiana Driver’s License or Indiana State Identification Card.

You can register to vote in-person or by mail by filling out a voter registration form. Indiana residents can register to vote without a driver’s license or Indiana State Identification Card – but, because of Indiana’s voter ID laws, you’ll have to have a legal identification card issued by the U.S. government or the state of Indiana on Election Day.

Certain military and overseas voters have extended registration deadlines. All that information is available on the Indiana Secretary of State’s website.

What rights do I have as a voter?

Voting places must be accessible to Hoosiers with disabilities. For example, if you’re unable to stand for long periods of time, you can request a chair. Or if you’re visually impaired, you may request a magnifier.

Voters with disabilities may seek assistance from poll workers (one from each political party). You’re also able to designate a friend or relative to assist you during voting – but they must complete an Affidavit of Voter Assistance at the Polls. That’s available at the polling station, before entering the voting booth.

Hoosiers who cannot read and/or write in English can also request assistance at a polling place.

Need assistance? 

Indiana Secretary of State
866-IN-1-VOTE (866-461-8683)
Staff on hand from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET

Indiana Disability Rights
Voice: 317-722-5555
Toll Free: 800-622-4845
Text Telephone (TTY): 800-838-1131

Indiana Election Division
Direct: 317-232-3939
Toll Free: 800-622-4941

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Can someone vote if they are housing insecure?

Short answer: yes. 

People who have a non-traditional residence, like those who are homeless, or those who live in a motor home, must still provide a location sufficient to allow local election officials to place the person in a precinct. If you stay in more than one place, voter registration officials should ask you to designate the location where you usually sleep in the county.

Your best chance of registering to vote will be working with your county election board. If the place has no street address, you’ll be asked to indicate the location by drawing a map or writing a description of the location on the state’s voter registration form or federal mail-in registration form in the appropriate box.

You’ll also be asked to provide a mailing address within the county where you reside – that being said, P.O. boxes cannot establish residency.

For online voter registration, you’ll be asked to provide an intersection for your address, which county officials will use to determine your precinct.

How do I vote absentee? And how are those votes counted?

There are three ways to vote absentee in Indiana: by mail, in person (also known as early voting) and by travel board.

You don't need an excuse to vote absentee in person, but Indiana limits who can vote absentee by mail and travel board.

Indiana is among the one-third of states that require a reason for voting absentee-by-mail – one of the following must apply: 

• You have a specific, reasonable expectation that you will be absent from the county on Election Day during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open (6 am until 6 pm).
• You have a disability.
• You are at least 65 years of age.
• You will have official election duties outside of your voting precinct.
• You are scheduled to work at your regular place of employment during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
• You will be confined due to illness or injury or you will be caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
• You are prevented from voting because of a religious discipline or religious holiday during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
• You are a participant in the state's address confidentiality program.
• You are a member of the military or a public safety officer.
• You are a "serious sex offender" as defined in Indiana Code 35-42-4-14(a).
• You are prevented from voting due to the unavailability of transportation to the polls.

After requesting your absentee-by-mail ballot, you must fill it out and mail it to the county election board’s office. 

But also keep in mind: ballots are only valid if they are received by the election board before noon on Nov. 3 – so leave plenty of time for mail to get to your county election board. 

The traveling board is available to people who expect to be confined, due to illness or injury, or caring for someone confined at a private residence on Election Day; people with disabilities and who believes their polling place is not accessible to them; and someone who is physically unable to complete the ballot and sign the affidavit on their own.

That includes folks who test positive for COVID-19 less than five days before the election and folks who have to remain in isolation for monkeypox.

Travel boards are available 19 days before Election Day. You can request a travel board through your county clerk or on IndianaVoters.com.

What do I do when I get to my polling place?

Your polling place will have a bunch of signs directing you where to go. Mostly, you'll just be standing in line at your polling place.

Once you get to the voter check-in table, you'll present your ID to the poll workers to check. They'll confirm your information and give you directions from there. If you need assistance, they'll be able to provide it there.

After you get to your voting booth, you're legally allowed to have your phone on you in case you've written your selections electronically or if you want to take a selfie with your ballot (live your truth, fam).

Because voting machines vary slightly in Indiana – depending on your county – you'll just need to follow the instructions of the poll workers at your polling place. And don't forget to get your selfie.