Voting is an important facet of democracy, for it allows people to elect representatives who will be voicing their thoughts and concerns on behalf of them. As the midterm elections are approaching quickly, it is important to make sure that you are registered to vote. Indiana does NOT offer registration on Election Day, so make sure you sign up now!

In order to vote in Indiana, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Have resided in the district for at least 30 days before the next election
• Be at least 18 years old on the day of the next general election
• Not currently be imprisoned following a criminal conviction

If you meet the requirements above, then you are officially ready to register. Indiana offers three different registration options: online, mail in, or in person registration. 

In order to register online, you must have a valid Indiana’s driver license or ID card to use the online registration system. The deadline to register online is October 11th at 11:59 PM. Click on the following link to get registered virtually: https://indianavoters.in.gov. 

If you don’t have a valid Indiana ID or just want to register by mail, you need to print and fill out the following form:  National Voter Registration Form. The deadline for mail in registration is also October 11th (It must be postmarked by then).

Here are some helpful tips to consider when filling out the form:

• For Box 6, your state voter ID number is your ten-digit Indiana-issued driver’s license number. However, if you do not have an Indiana driver’s license, then you can give the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not possess a Social Security number, write “none” and a voter ID number will be assigned to you later.
• For Box 7, Indiana does not require you to register with a specific party in order to participate in the partisan primary elections.
• For Box 8, you can leave this part blank if you wish to do so. Race or Ethnic Group information is not required.

When you have finished filling out the form, send it to your local election office. The following link can help you find one nearby: https://indianavoters.in.gov/CountyContact/Index.

Please note that if you are registering to vote for the first time through mail in application, Federal law requires you to show some proof of identification the first time you go to vote. Possible proof of identity include a current and valid photo identification, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or a government document that shows your name and address.

If you choose to register in person, you can call your local election office and set up time to go there. The deadline to register in person at an election office is also October 11th.

These deadlines are approaching fast, so make sure you register as soon as possible!

All information was provided by Democracy Works’ How to Vote, found at: https://howto.vote/register/en/in.html.