AARP Eye Center
Important dates and election information
- Deadline to register to vote: Monday, Oct. 7
- In-person absentee voting: Tuesday, Oct. 8, through Monday, Nov. 4, during weekdays, plus Saturday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Nov. 2
- Last day to request an absentee-by-mail ballot: Thursday, Oct.24
- Deadline to return an absentee-by-mail ballot: Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.
- General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5
Voting at a glance
- Voter registration: To check your registration status, use the Indiana Voter Portal.
- Absentee voting: Voting absentee-by-mail is available to voters who are 65 or older or who have another approved reason, such as a disability or a work obligation.
- Early voting: All registered voters can vote early by filling out an absentee ballot at an early voting location.
- Voting at the polls: Poll hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Before you cast your ballot, you must show an acceptable form of photo ID.
Recent voting changes in Indiana
Recent laws may change how you vote in the 2024 elections:
- Effective July 1, if registering to vote in Indiana for the first time and applying in person, you must provide an Indiana driver’s license number, state ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you can’t provide one of these numbers, you may provide a copy of a valid photo ID, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document, such as a U.S. passport, that shows your name and residence.
- A 2023 law requires voters applying for an absentee-by-mail ballot to provide an acceptable form of ID.
How to register to vote
The deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 7. Apply by 11:59 p.m. if online, by 5 p.m. if at the Indiana Election Division or by close of business at a registration office. Mailed applications must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 7.
You can register:
- Online: Go to the state’s Voter Portal, then select Apply Now under Register to Vote. You’ll need an Indiana driver’s license or Indiana state ID card.
- By mail: Download and print a voter registration form, complete it and mail it to your county voter registration office or the Indiana Election Division. Addresses are listed at the bottom of the form.
- In person: Visit your county voter registration office or the Indiana Election Division in Indianapolis. You can also pick up a registration form at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles office, public assistance office or other select agencies.
If registering to vote for the first time in Indiana by mail or in person, you must provide an Indiana driver’s license number, state ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you can’t provide one of these numbers, you may provide a current utility bill, bank statement, U.S. passport or other approved ID. A full list of options can be found on the voter registration application.
Registering to vote on Election Day
Indiana does not permit voters to register on Election Day.
Check your voter registration status
Check your registration status via Indiana's My Voter Portal or by calling 866-461-8683 (866-IN-1-VOTE).
How to request an absentee ballot
Absentee voting is available to registered voters who are 65 years or older or who have another approved reason, such as a disability or a work obligation. Applications must be received — not just postmarked — by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24.
You can apply:
- Online: Go to the state’s Voter Portal, follow the prompts to log in, then select the “ABS-MAIL” or “ABS-POR CORREO)” option to fill out an application online.
- By mail: Download, print and complete an absentee ballot application posted to the state’s Voter Portal (under Absentee Ballot Forms). Mail it to your county elections office or the Indiana Election Division. Addresses are listed on the bottom of the form.
- By phone: Call your county election board or the Indiana Election Division (317-232-3939) to have an application mailed to you.
- By email: Print and complete an absentee ballot application. Scan or photograph it, and email it to your county election board or the Indiana Election Division at elections@iec.in.gov.
- In person: Visit your county election board office.
With your application, you must provide a photocopy of an ID card that complies with the state’s photo ID law or one of the following: your Indiana driver’s license number, Indiana ID card number, unique voter ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. The state recommends that voters provide more than one number since at least one will need to match either your voter registration record or the number maintained by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles or U.S. Social Security Administration.
Returning your absentee ballot
After completing your ballot, sign the ballot envelope on the signature line. Return it:
- By mail: Use the provided security envelope to mail your ballot to your county election board. First-class postage is provided.
- In person: Hand-deliver your ballot at your county election board or an early voting location.
Ballots must be received — not just postmarked — by 6 p.m. local time on Election Day.
Voting in person before Election Day
Any registered voter can cast an absentee ballot in person at their county election board, circuit court clerk’s office or an early-voting site. Early voting is available on weekdays starting Tuesday, Oct. 8, through Monday, Nov. 4, at noon, as well as Saturday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Nov. 2. Hours vary by location. To find your polling location and hours, go to the state’s Voter Portal and select Voting Location, or contact your county election board.
Voting at the polls on Election Day
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. To find your polling location, go to the state’s Voter Portal and select Voting Location, or contact your county election board.
For ballot information, visit the state’s Voter Portal and select Who’s On The Ballot.
Voter ID requirements on Election Day
When voting in person, you must present an approved form of photo ID, such as an Indiana driver’s license, Indiana photo ID card, military ID or U.S. passport. Some exemptions exist for voters who have a religious objection to being photographed or live in a state-licensed facility (such as a nursing home) that also serves as their polling place.
If you forget your ID, you can cast a provisional ballot and have until noon on Friday, Nov. 15, to verify your identity with your county election board.
Voting with a disability
Voters with disabilities can vote absentee-by-mail. If you need assistance voting, visit the state’s Absentee Voting web page for more information on who can assist and how.
Voters with print disabilities — those unable to independently mark a paper ballot due to blindness, low vision or a physical disability that impairs manual dexterity — may request electronic absentee ballots for all elections.
All Indiana polling locations are equipped with accessible voting systems. If you need assistance at the polls, you may receive help from two poll workers (one from each major political party) or a person of your choice, as long as that person is not your employer, union officer or agent of your employer or union. Assistants must complete an Affidavit of Voter Assistance at the Polls at the polling station before entering the voting booth.
Indiana offers absentee voting by travel board for some voters, such as nursing home residents, where a bipartisan team delivers the voter’s ballot and assists the person with completing their ballot. Those who are confined due to illness or injury, or who believe their polling place is not accessible to them, plus others, can apply. More information is available on the state’s Absentee Voting web page.
Editor’s note: This guide was originally published Jan. 10, 2024, and updated with new information about voting in the 2024 elections.
Grace Dickinson is a writer for aarp.org who covers federal and state policy. She previously wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Her work has also appeared on sites including HuffPost and Eater.