The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in Indiana is fast approaching on October 24. But Indiana limits who can apply for mail-in ballot — and experts say common mistakes can further restrict voting by mail in the November 5 election.

For more than two months, Hoosier voters attempting to apply for an absentee ballot online were met with a block of bright red text informing them that the function was down while the state complied with new — and controversial — voter identification requirements.

Hoosiers who are blind will have more freedom in how they vote in May's primary election after a federal courts ruling in a lawsuit against Indianas absentee voting rules.

A House committee dramatically scaled back a controversial bill Thursday that would have imposed new voter identification requirements on absentee ballot applications.

One of Indiana's most prominent corporations is criticizing an Indiana proposal that opponents maintain will make mail-in voting more difficult by requiring voters to submit identification numbers with their ballot applications.

More than 560,000 Hoosiers requested mail-in ballots for the November election -- a record for Indiana. And more than 460,000 of those ballots were returned.

The Indiana secretary of states office, which oversees state election policy, said 559,749 absentee by-mail ballots were requested across the state as of Friday, and 530,854 voters have voted at an early voting location. Thursday was the deadline for requesting a ballot.

Vice President Mike Pence and wife Karen Pence cast absentee ballots in Indianapolis Friday morning at the City-County Building.

Hoosiers who want to vote by mail in the upcoming election and have a legal reason to do so have just a few days left to request their mail-in ballot.

A federal judge Tuesday temporarily halted a ruling that would have forced Indiana to count mail-in ballots that were postmarked by Election Day.