Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR

Although the Indiana General Assembly made minor improvements to cure provisions and extended protections for election workers this session, it also passed legislation that creates significant unnecessary barriers for individuals registering to vote for the first time. Additionally, the legislation makes it more difficult for election officials to obtain assistance and continuing education. The restrictions created will have lasting negative impacts on voters and greatly outweighs the minor improvements made. Therefore, Indiana received a D on this year’s progress report.

Looking Back

Where Indiana Started at the Beginning of 2024

• 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 2024, we considered the state a middle tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2024 activity against other middle tier states. Last year, Indiana was considered a bottom tier state.

How Our Tier Compares

• COVI (2024): 31st
• EPI Score (2022): 20th
• CLC State Scorecards (2022): 6/10
• MAP Democracy Rating (2024): /FAIR

2024: This Past Year

Legislative Action

This past session, the Indiana Assembly focused its energy on passing a significant piece of new anti-voter legislation aimed at making it easier to remove individuals from the voter rolls and making it more difficult for election officials to receive assistance and continuing education.

• HB 1264 requires additional proof of residency for first-time registrants, requires election officials to verify voter’s citizenship against motor vehicle records that may be outdated, and bans local election officials from joining or interacting with organizations that have directly/indirectly financed elections. This burdens young voters, could lead to naturalized citizens being wrongfully purged from the voter rolls, and bars local election officials from getting support from nonpartisan election organizations.
• SB 170 extends existing criminal protections for election workers to protect them from harassment and violence while on the job.
• HB 1265 revises cure procedures to allow voters to return cure forms to early voting sites, among other things.