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Voter Identification
2006 was the first year Indiana residents have to produce identification at the polls in order to exercise their right to vote. The Democratic Party's challenge to this infringement on your right to vote was denied by a plurality decision in the U.S. Supreme Court on April 28, 2008. Among other things, the plurality found that the Indiana law imposed only a "limited burden" on your right to vote. Of course, anything other than a complete denial of your right to vote would be "limited," we suppose, but the state's interests are apparently more important than those of its citizens.
Click here to read the U.S. Supreme Court's decision. And make sure to take your ID to the polls!
On September 17, 2009, in League of Women Voters v. Rokita, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that "the Voter I.D. law violates Indiana Constitution Article 1, Section 23 (the Equal Privileges and Immunities Clause), and must be declared void because it regulates voters in a manner that is not uniform and impartial." However, the Indiana Supreme Court has granted transfer, which sets aside the Court of Appeals opinion. So, we're now waiting on the Indiana Supreme Court to decide the issue.
Current Indiana law, according to the Indiana Secretary of State, is as follows:
On Election Day, Indiana voters must provide photo ID.
The ID must:
● Display the voter’s photo
● Display the voter’s name, and the name must conform with the voter registration record
Conform does not mean identical. Below are examples of names that would conform to "Robert John Crew"
Robert John Crew
Robert J. Crew
Robert Crew
R. John Crew
R. J. Crew
Bob John Crew
Bob J. Crew
Bob Crew
John Crew
J. Crew
● Contain an expiration date and either be current or have expired sometime after the date of the last General Election (November 4, 2008). Including military IDs with expiration dates of "INDEF."
● Be issued by the State of Indiana or the U.S. government. In most cases, an Indiana driver’s license, Indiana photo ID card, U.S. passport, or Military ID is sufficient.
• A student ID from an Indiana State school may only be used if it meets all of the 4 criteria specified above. A student ID from a private institution may not be used for voting purposes.
● If you do not have a valid photo ID, you may obtain an Indiana photo ID card free of charge from any BMV license branch that issues drivers licenses and IDs. Of course, to get an ID at the BMV you will need to provide a significant amount of documentation.
● Exemptions do exist for the indigent, those with a religious objection to being photographed, and those living in state-licensed facilities that serve as the precinct’s polling place.
● You may cast a provisional ballot if you are unable or unwilling to present photo ID on Election Day. If you cast a provisional ballot on election day, you have until noon 10 days after the election to follow up with the County Election Board and either provide the necessary documentation or affirm one of the law’s exemptions applies to you.
• If you vote absentee-in-person at the Clerk's office, you can affirm that day that an exemption applies to you.
• If you are a resident at a state-licensed facility that serves as your polling place, you may claim an exemption at the polls on Election Day.
• If you qualify to vote absentee-by-mail or absentee-by-traveling board, and you chose to vote as such, you are not required to present photo ID.