Hamilton County Clerk Kathy Williams is asking those who are eligible to file for an absentee ballot to do so now to ensure their ballots are returned by the mail-in deadline.
Williams
“We’ve had a lot of calls with concern about the post office and its ability to get mail-in ballots returned in time,” Williams said. “We encourage voters to apply now for their absentee ballots. We will start mailing those ballots the week of Sept. 14 which will give folks six weeks to get them returned.”
In a meeting last week, the Indiana Election Commission voted down the expansion of absentee balloting to include all Hoosier voters due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Short of a mandate from Governor Eric Holcomb, absentee ballots will be limited to registered voters who:
- Expect to be absent from the county on election day
- Are confined to residence due to illness or injury
- Are caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury
- Have disabilities
- Are at least 65 years of age
- Have official election duties outside of their voting precinct
- Are scheduled to work during the entire 12 hours that polls are open
- Are unable to vote at polls in person due to a religious holiday
- Are eligible to vote under the “fail-safe” procedures in 3-10-11 or 3-10-12
- Are a member of the military or a public safety officer
- Are a serious sex offender
- Are prevented from voting due to the unavailability of transportation to polls
The clerk’s office has already received more than 12,000 absentee applications to date. That’s compared to 11,470 applications total in 2016.
Those wishing to vote by mail must apply by midnight on Thursday, Oct. 22. The application can be downloaded at this link. You can also call (317) 776-8476 and request an application over the phone. Once you have voted, you can submit your application by fax, by mail or by email. All mailed-in ballots must be received by the Election Office on or before noon on Election Day.
In person early voting locations will open throughout Hamilton County starting Tuesday, October 6.
“Those who are nervous about long lines on Election Day need not worry,” Williams said. “Lines are minimal on early voting days, plus we’ve purchased an additional 150 voting machines and will open 124 voting locations on Election Day.”
The deadline to register to vote is Monday, Oct 5. You can do that in person or online at Indianavoters.com.