Early voting has started in Indiana. Here's how to do it

Early voting for the November election begins today, Oct. 8, in Marion County and across Indiana. 

Registered voters can cast a ballot at the Indianapolis City-County Building up until before Election Day on Nov. 5. Other early voting sites will open around the county starting Oct. 26. Here’s what to know:

Am I registered to vote?

You can check your voter registration status here. The state conducts regular maintenance of the voter rolls. If your status is “active” or “inactive,” you are eligible to vote, but if the status is “canceled,” your name is not included on the Election Day poll list.

There were 644,359 registered voters in Marion County as of Oct. 1, according to the county’s election plan. 

If your voter registration is "cancelled," you might still be allowed to vote a regular ballot under a "fail-safe" provision, according to the Secretary of State’s offce. A person can tell the poll workers, either by speaking or in writing, that they still live at the same address listed in the voter system and meet all the other voting requirements.

But if you are not registered — you can’t vote this year. The state voter registration deadline closed Oct 7.

Do I need identification to vote?

Yes, state law requires it. Bring an approved form of ID to the polls and make sure your voter registration information is up to date. If you’ve moved recently, the home address on the ID does not need to match the home address as long as it’s valid, according to the Marion County Board of Voters Registration. But your voter registration should have your current home address.

Here’s where to vote before Election Day

The Indianapolis City-County Building is an early voting location poll site from Oct. 8 through Nov. 4.

• Indianapolis City-County Building, 200 E Washington St,. W122, Indianapolis, IN, 46204. Check the website for specific hours. Voters can park at the EZ Park lot on 355 E. Pearl Street or in the Whole Foods parking garage for up to two hours. Enter the building off Delaware Street. Voting takes place in the county clerk’s office on the first floor.

Eight other locations open later this month. Each is open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.

• Decatur Township Government Center, 5410 S High School Road. Enter through Door #1 on the building’s north side. Voting takes place in the Conference Room
   
• Franklin Township Government Center. 6231 S Arlington Ave. Enter through the last door on the east side of the building. Voting takes place in the Community/Training room #1.
   
• International Marketplace Coalition, 4233 Lafayette Road. Enter the building’s main entrance. Voting takes place in the Event Hall.
   
• MSD Lawrence Education & Community Center, 6501 Sunnyside Road. Enter through the Community Center’s main entrance on the west side. Voting takes place in the Community Room.
   
• Perry Township Government Center, 4925 Shelby St. Enter through the doors facing Shelby St. Voting takes place on the main level in the classrooms.
   
• St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W 86th St. Signs will direct voters entering from 86th Street to the north side parking lot in the rear of the building. Enter through Door 7. Voting takes place in the Great Hall.
   
• Thatcher Park Community Center, 4649 W Vermont St. Enter through the main entrance. Voting takes place in the gymnasium, said community center staff.
   
• Warren Township Government Center, 501 N Post Rd. Enter through the main entrance. Voting takes place in the Community Room.

Voting by mail, absentee ballot and on Election Day

Early voting takes place in-person and is not the same as voting by mail, or absentee ballot. Indiana recently tightened the ID requirements for voting by mail. You can qualify to vote absentee for several reasons, including for having to work during voting hours on Election Day, lack of transportation to the polls, or having a disability.

But you must apply to qualify. The Indiana Election Division or your county election office must receive the application by Oct. 24 at 11:59 p.m., even if the application is postmarked before the deadline. There are several requirements and steps to the process, so be sure to take a look in advance of the deadline.

If you are sick, injured, or disabled, you can receive a number of accommodations. You can also qualify to have a traveling board hand-deliver ballots directly to your home. There are accessibility and assistance requirements under federal law and all polling places in Indiana should be compliant. You can receive a number of accommodations. Federal law requires all polling sites to be physically accessible and have at least one accessible voting machine.

Report any accessibility or election day fraud grievances to the bipartisan Indiana Election Division. You can fill out a complaint form or call the toll-free Hoosier Voter Hotline line at 866-IN1-VOTE (866-261-8683) from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day or 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on normal business days. You can also contact WFYI with any election-related tips at zcassel@wfyi.org.

All vote centers will be open on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 5, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are 186 polling sites across Marion County on Election Day. Any Marion County registered voter can cast ballot at any county vote center.

Contact data journalist Zak Cassel at zcassel@wfyi.org.