Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR

In the last few years, the Indiana General Assembly worked hard to expand early voting and make the absentee voting process more user-friendly. However, after passing those pro-voter policies, the Assembly moved to curtail absentee voting by adding new ID number requirements to absentee ballot applications and prohibiting sending unsolicited applications to voters. Therefore, Indiana received a C on this year’s progress report.

Looking Back

Where Indiana Started at the Beginning of 2023

• Automatic Voter Registration: No
• Online Voter Registration: DMV ID
• Same-Day Registration: No
• Restoration of Rights: Prison Disenfranchisement
• Vote by Mail: Excuse-Only
• Electronic Registration Information Center Member: No
• Early Voting Opportunities: In-Person Absentee
• ID Requirements: Strict Photo ID

Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for Indiana as of 2022, we considered the state a bottom tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2023 activity against other bottom tier states.

How Our Tier Compares

• COVI (2022): 36th
• EPI Score (2020): 31st
• CLC State Scorecards (2022): 6/10
• MAP Democracy Rating (2022): FAIR

2023: This Past Year

Legislative Action

• H 1334 prohibits election officials from distributing unsolicited mail ballot applications, revises the mail ballot app to request voters’ driver’s license number or last 4 of their social security number, and establishes a process for county election boards to allow voters to correct defective mail ballot applications, among other things.
• S 106 prohibits local jurisdictions from adopting any changes related to conducting elections unless they are specifically allowed by state law. Any local laws adopted before January 1 of this year that violate this new law would be invalidated.