Am I eligible to register to vote?

A person can register to vote in Indiana if they:

(1) Are a citizen of the United States;

(2) Are at least 18 years of age on the day of the general election held in November (which is November 5, 2024, for the 2024 General Election);

(3) Establish residency in an Indiana precinct continuously for at least 30 days before the next election (i.e., establish residency starting on or before October 6, 2024, for the 2024 General Election); AND

(4) Are not currently in prison following conviction for a crime.

When is the deadline to register to vote for the 2024 General Election?

The voter registration deadline for voting in the November 5, 2024, General Election is October 7, 2024, which is 29 days before the election. For registration applications submitted by mail, the application must be postmarked by October 7.

Am I registered to vote?

All Indiana voters can check their voter registration status at indianavoters.in.gov.

How do I register online to vote?

A voter can submit a registration application online at indianavoters.in.gov.

Identification requirements to register online to vote: To register online, a voter must have a current and valid Indiana driver’s license, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles identification card, or Indiana learner’s permit. If a voter does not have these documents, they may still register in person to vote or register by mail to vote (see below for additional details).

How do I register to vote? Can I register in person or by mail?

To register in person to vote, a voter may visit any of the following locations to complete a registration application: the county voter registration office; the Indiana Election Division; any Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) license branch while applying for or renewing a driver’s license, permit, or identification card; law enforcement offices whenever a person is applying for a license to carry a handgun; any public assistance office while applying for services; certain agencies serving persons with disabilities while applying for assistance; armed forces recruitment offices; and any unemployment compensation office that provides assistance or services concerning unemployment compensation.

To register by mail to vote, a voter must obtain a mail-in registration application. Voters can download a mail-in registration form from the Secretary of State’s website (in.gov/sos/elections/voter-information/register-to-vote) or at indianavoters.in.gov. The form is also available at places including public libraries, license branches, township executive offices, city and town clerks’ offices, county voter registration offices, circuit clerk’s offices, public secondary schools, and the Indiana Election Division’s website. Voters must send the completed form to their county’s voter registration office or the Indiana Election Division.

- NOTE: The state voter registration form has recently been updated to reflect the changes of HEA 1264 (2024) that went into effect on July 1, 2024, and the old state form is no longer accepted. The federal voter registration form is still being accepted.

What has changed because of the new law, HEA 1264? Will the new documentary proof of residency requirements impact me or voters who I am registering?

First-time voters in Indiana who register in person to vote or who register to vote through a third-party registration drive will now have to provide additional proof of residency, as described below. Previously, this requirement only applied to first-time voters who registered by mail to vote.

Identification requirements for first-time registrants (whether in-person, through a third-party registration drive, or by mail):

Individuals registering to vote for the first time (whether in person, through a third-party registration drive, or by mail) must submit an Indiana driver’s license number or the last four digits of their SSN with their voter registration application, and the county voter registration office or election division must be able to match the information submitted by the applicant with an existing Indiana identification record bearing the same name, date of birth, and ID number.

If the registrant cannot or does not provide an Indiana license or the last four digits of their SSN, or if that process does not yield a match, the registrant must provide additional documentary proof of residency (“DPOR”): (1) a current and valid photo identification; or (2) a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document; that shows the name and residence address of the voter stated on the voter’s registration application.

Although failing to provide the required DPOR will not prevent an individual from registering to vote, the registrant must ensure that the DPOR is filed with the county registration office before the close of polls on election day for their ballot to be counted. The registrant can do this by either providing the requisite DPOR to the poll clerk on election day, providing DPOR when submitting an application for an absentee ballot, or providing DPOR directly to the county voter registration office.

EXCEPTION: DPOR requirements do not apply to people who are absent uniformed services voters or overseas voters or are entitled to vote in a manner other than in person under federal law.

Will HEA 1264’s new documentary proof of citizenship requirements impact me or voters who I am registering for the 2024 General Election?

No. Although HEA 1264 adds new documentary proof of citizenship requirements, these requirements are not supposed to go into effect until 2025.

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights staff are happy to answer any questions about these or other requirements from civic organizations or voters. If a civic organization or voter has any questions about HEA 1264 or updates on how HEA 1264 is being implemented in practice, please contact Ami Gandhi at agandhi@clccrul.org, Cliff Helm at chelm@clccrul.org, or Conner Kozisek at ckozisek@clccrul.org.

Voters or civic organizations encountering problems or questions while voting or registering to vote can also call or text the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

Voters and civic organizations can also call the following bilingual hotlines:

• Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)

• Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)

• Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)

For more information about Election Protection hotlines, please visit 866ourvote.org.

The National Association of the Deaf also provides an American Sign Language (ASL) hotline at 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683) where voters can ask questions and get answers in ASL. For more information about this hotline, please visit nad.org/voter-information.