Editor's Note: In our first Civic Engagement story this spring, we brought you GreatNews.Life Founder Chris Mahlmann's perspective on why voting in local elections matters. You can find that here. This story below is the second in our series for the 2022 primary elections. Please exercise your civic duty to vote!
Primary elections in Indiana are on May 3, 2022.
Are you registered?
While the deadline to register to vote has already passed, you can easily check if you are registered by visiting IndianaVoters.com and clicking on Check Voting Status.
Do that now, well before election day, so if there is a problem you have time to address it. The information on this portal is maintained by your local county clerk of the circuit court in conjunction with the Indiana Secretary of State's Office. If your voter registration information is not correct, contact your local county elections office, or the Hava Administration (Help American's Vote Act) via email at HAVAADMINISTRATOR@SOS.IN.GOV .
Voting absentee-in-person and absentee-by-mail
To vote absentee-by-mail, you must submit your request for an absentee ballot no later than April 21, 2022 by 11:59 p.m. local time. But don't wait. If you're a registered voter and you know you need vote by mail, log in to your voter portal page at IndianaVoters.com and click on Voting Information on the left, then Absentee Ballot. There, you can download the application to vote absentee-by-mail that must be returned to the county by the deadline above. You can mail, fax, email, or hand-deliver your application. Follow all instructions on the form.
The 2020 election gave all voters the option to vote absentee-by-mail, however the 2022 election will return to the normal restrictions of absentee-by-mail voting. To see if you are eligible for absentee-by-mail voting, click here.
If you submit your request for an absentee-by-mail ballot by the April 21 deadline you should receive your ballot to cast in time for the May 3 election.
You can also vote absentee-in-person (or, in other words, early voting before May 3 in person), but per Indiana Election Committee order, early voting in person is available from Tuesday, April 5, 2022 to Monday, May 2, 2022. Check your local county election commission for hours and details.
Voting on election day, May 3
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., May 3 for voting.
Indiana has requested federal funding to assist with providing the required sanitary precautions at polling places on election day, including masks and hand sanitizer, and protocols for sanitizing surfaces will be put in place.
In Indiana, a photo ID is required to cast your ballot in person, where early or on election day. Click here for examples of acceptable forms of ID.
Some polling places in Northwest Indiana counties may have changed since the last time you voted. If you plan to vote in person, get familiar with your polling location early. Again, you can easily check your polling place by visiting IndianaVoters.com and clicking on Voting Location.
Problems casting your ballot on election day
If you arrive at your polling place on election day and encounter an issue, such as, you believe you are registered to vote but officials do not have your information correct or cannot find it in the records, you can still cast a ballot. The Indiana Voter's Bill of Rights allows voters to cast a provisional ballot if there is a question about the voter's qualification to vote in that particular precinct. If you are denied a traditional ballot, simply say, "I am requesting a provisional ballot" and the poll worker will help you with that process.
The next story in our Civic Engagement Series will guide voters on how to learn about the candidates who are on the 2022 Primary Election ballot. If you have information about virtual candidate forums or helpful places where voters can find information about who the candidates are, and where they stand on issues of importance to those in the Region, email your information to share@greatnews.life.
