Secretary Of State Lawson Says Election Officials Have PPE, Prepared For Vote-By-Mail

There are 18 days left until the June primary. Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson says county election officials are prepared for both in-person and vote-by-mail ballots during the pandemic. 

Lawson says her office has purchased thousands of gallons of disinfectant cleaners and hand sanitizer, and thousands of face masks and gloves for poll workers ahead of the election.

Some of the personal protective equipment will be reserved in case there is a recount in a race.

READ MORE: Governor Holcomb Outlines How – And Why – The State Will Reopen

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In addition to that, she says the state has dedicated more resources to encourage people to vote by mail. More than two weeks out, more than six times as many people are voting by mail in this election than in 2016. 

“This isn’t a new process. It’s just an expansion of something that clerks do every election cycle,” she says.

Lawson says because of the increase in absentee ballots, she expects election results may take two to three days. The Indiana Election Commission gives counties until June 12 to count their absentee ballots.

For Hoosiers voting by mail, the county election board must receive your ballot by noon June 2 – no matter when it's postmarked. The deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot is Thursday, May 21.

Contact Lauren at lchapman@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @laurenechapman_.