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Absentee Voting
2010 Absentee-in-Person
As a registered voter in Brown County, Indiana, you are eligible to vote absentee-in-person at the Brown County Clerk's Office starting on April 5, 2010, and ending at noon, May 3, 2010, for this year's primary election.
Those wishing to vote absentee-in-person do not have to give a reason why they wish to do so. Remember that voter identification rules apply, so take the required ID with you.
If you want to vote absentee-in-person you should go to the Brown County Clerk's Office during the absentee voting period and request a ballot.
The Clerk is located on the first floor of the Brown County Courthouse, at the intersection of VanBuren and Main streets in Nashville. Voting hours will be weekdays 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The office also is expected to be open Saturday April 24, and Saturday, May 1, from 8 a.m. to noon, for voting.
Note: Voters voting absentee-in-person ARE required to show photo ID.
2010 Absentee-by-Mail
In order to vote absentee-by-mail, you must fit into one of the following criteria:
1. You have a specific, reasonable expectation that you will be absent from the county on Primary Election Day (May 4, 2010) during the entire 12 hours the polls are open (6 a.m. until 6 p.m.).
2. You have a disability.
3. You are at least 65 years of age.
4. You will have official election duties outside of your voting precinct.
5. You are scheduled to work at your regular place of employment during the entire 12 hours the polls are open.
6. You will be confined due to illness or injury or you will be caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury during the entire 12 hours the polls are open.
7. You are prevented from voting because of a religious discipline or religious holiday during the entire 12 hours the polls are open.
8. You are a participant in the state’s address confidentiality program.
Note: Voters voting absentee-by-mail are NOT required to show photo ID.
Absentee-by-Traveling Board
Voting absentee-by-traveling board will begin on April 22, 2010, and end on May 3, 2010, for the 2010 primary election. In order to vote absentee-by-traveling board, one of the following must apply:
1. The voter expects to be confined, due to illness or injury, or the voter expects to be caring for a confined person at a private residence, on Primary Election Day, May 4, 2010.
2. The voter is a voter with disabilities and believes their polling place is not accessible to them.
The ballot will be delivered to you by a bi-partisan absentee voter board who will be able to assist you with you ballot.
Voters voting by traveling board are NOT required to show photo ID.
- - Important Deadlines for 2010 Primary Election - -
2010 DEADLINE FOR ABSENTEE-BY-MAIL:
Applications to vote an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the Brown County Clerk by hand delivery, mail or fax no later than midnight, April 26, 2010, for this year's primary election. For an application to vote absentee by mail only, click here. En Español.
2010 DEADLINE FOR ABSENTEE BY TRAVELING BOARD:
Hand-delivered, mailed or faxed absentee ballot applications from confined voters or voters caring for a confined person requesting delivery of a ballot by an absentee voter board must be received by the Brown County Clerk no later than noon, May 3, 2010, for this year's general election. For an application to vote absentee, click here. En Español.
Click here for Military and Overseas Voter Guide
THE ABSENTEE VOTER’S BILL OF RIGHTS
Every voter casting an absentee ballot has the following rights and responsibilities as part of absentee voting.
You have the right to mark your absentee ballot secretly, without anyone else being present when you mark the ballot or seal the ballot in the envelope.
IT IS A VIOLATION OF INDIANA LAW FOR A PERSON TO PAY OR OFFER TO PAY AN INDIVIDUAL FOR CASTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, AND A VIOLATION OF INDIANA LAW FOR A PERSON TO ACCEPT ANY PAYMENT OR PROPERTY FOR CASTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT.
CHECK YOUR BALLOT FOR 2 SETS OF INITIALS. In order for an absentee ballot to be counted, it must contain two (2) sets of initials on the back of the ballot. Please inspect your ballot before mailing. If your ballot does not contain the initials, you have the right to request a replacement ballot. Please contact your county election board at the number provided on the bottom of this form and ask for an ABS-5 Affidavit or "Statement Concerning Defective, Lost, Destroyed, or Spoiled Ballot."
You have the right to mark your ballot without anyone engaging in "electioneering" in your presence if that person knows that you have an unmarked absentee ballot.
"Electioneering" means expressing support or opposition to a candidate, a political party, or public question. However, your spouse, a member of your household (or your guardian, if you are incapacitated) may express this support or opposition to you without violating the "electioneering law".
IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW AND INDIANA LAW FOR ANYONE TO ATTEMPT TO FORCE YOU TO MARK YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT IN ANY PARTICULAR WAY.
If you are voting absentee by mail, then you must personally mark your ballot. A person with disabilities who is unable to make a voting mark on the ballot or sign the absentee ballot secrecy envelope must vote before an absentee voter board.
After you mark and seal your absentee ballot inside the secrecy envelope used to return your marked ballot, you have the responsibility to completely fill out and sign the affidavit on the back of the secrecy envelope. By signing the affidavit, you are swearing or affirming that all of the information on your affidavit is true. This information includes your name, complete residence address, and that you are eligible to vote in this election.
You must also swear or affirm that you voted your absentee ballot in secret, and sealed the ballot in the envelope without any other person seeing how you voted. (If you are voting by mail and another person provided verbal assistance to you or assisted you in sealing your ballot in the envelope, that person must also swear or affirm that they did not coerce or improperly influence you.)
After you have sealed your absentee ballot inside the envelope you return the envelope to the county election board in the following manner: 1) by U.S. mail or a bonded courier company; 2), by hand-delivering the envelope yourself; 3) by delivering the envelope to a member of your household (or to a person to whom you have given your power of attorney). If you deliver the sealed envelope to a household member or your power of attorney, that person must deliver your ballot to the county election board in person, by U.S. mail, or by using a bonded courier company.
IT IS A VIOLATION OF INDIANA LAW FOR YOU TO DELIVER THE SEALED ENVELOPE CONTAINING YOUR MARKED ABSENTEE BALLOT TO ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THOSE PERSONS IDENTIFIED ABOVE, OR FOR THAT PERSON TO ACCEPT THIS ENVELOPE.
Even if you mail your ballot prior to election day, it will not count unless it is received by your county election board before the polls close on election day [or, in a central count county "no later than 12 noon on election day]"
If you think that a violation of Indiana election law has occurred, contact your county election board immediately at the telephone number or mailing address below to provide all the information you have about this violation.
You may also contact your county prosecuting attorney’s office, the Indiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at (317) 232-4338, or the Indiana Election Division of the Office of the Secretary of State at (800) 622-4941. The county prosecuting attorney and Indiana State Police can investigate election crimes. The Election Division is not a law enforcement agency, but can provide you with information about Indiana election laws and refer you to law enforcement agencies.