INDIANA — As Indiana prepares for the 2026 election cycle, state election officials are reminding Hoosiers of the essential requirements, voter identification rules, and key deadlines needed to cast a ballot in both the primary and general elections.
Eligibility and Registration
To vote in Indiana, individuals must be U.S. citizens, reside in Indiana, and be at least 18 years old by the General Election on Nov. 3, 2026. Additionally, voters must have lived in their precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election, be registered, and not currently be serving a prison sentence following a criminal conviction.
Eligible residents can register online using a valid Indiana driver’s license or state ID card at IndianaVoters.com or submit a mail-in registration form to their county election board.
Key Election Dates for 2026
- Primary Election:
- April 6: Voter registration closes.
- April 7: Early in-person absentee voting begins.
- April 23: Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail.
- May 5: Primary Election Day.
- General Election:
- October 5: Voter registration closes.
- October 6: Early in-person absentee voting begins.
- October 22: Deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail.
- November 3: General Election Day.
Note: Mail-in voter registration applications must be postmarked on or before the deadline date, while online applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Absentee-by-mail applications must be physically received by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline day.
Photo ID Requirements
In-person voters must present a government-issued photo ID issued by the State of Indiana, the U.S. government, or a federally recognized Native American tribe. Acceptable forms include an Indiana driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID. Student IDs from state universities or colleges are not accepted.
The photo ID must contain an expiration date and remain current or have expired after the last General Election (Nov. 5, 2024). The name on the ID must conform to the voter registration record, though exact matching is not required (e.g., “Robert J. Crew” conforms to “Robert John Crew”).
Voters who do not possess a valid photo ID can obtain an Indiana photo ID card free of charge at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) branch.
Absentee and Provisional Voting
In-person early voting is available to all registered voters starting 28 days before each election without requiring a specific reason. However, voting absentee by mail requires meeting one of 12 qualifying criteria established under state law, such as being 65 or older, having a disability, or having work/travel obligations during the entire 12 hours polls are open.
Voters who face eligibility challenges or lack proper identification at the polls may cast a provisional ballot. Provisional voters have until noon, 10 days after the election (May 15 for the Primary; Nov. 13 for the General Election) to provide required documentation or photo ID to their county election board.
What is on the Ballot
The 2026 elections will determine representation across federal, state, and local offices, including:
- Statewide offices: Secretary of State, State Comptroller, and State Treasurer
- All 9 U.S. House of Representatives seats
- 25 Indiana Senate seats and all 100 Indiana House seats
- Local judicial, law enforcement, and municipal officials, as well as school board members in November.
Voters can verify their registration status, find polling locations, or check provisional ballot status online at IndianaVoters.com or by calling the Hoosier Voter Hotline at 1-866-IN-1-VOTE.
