INDIANA — As election season approaches, state election officials are reminding Hoosiers of Indiana’s voter photo ID rules. Under state law, all voters casting a ballot in person must present an acceptable government-issued photo identification before receiving a regular ballot, with limited exceptions.
Photo ID Criteria
To be accepted at a polling location, a voter’s identification must meet four primary criteria:
- Photograph: The ID must display a photo of the voter.
- Conforming Name: The name on the ID must conform to the voter registration record. State guidelines clarify that the name does not need to be an exact match. For example, a registration under “Robert John Crew” matches acceptable variations such as “Robert J. Crew,” “Bob Crew,” “R. John Crew,” or “John Crew.”
- Expiration Date: The ID must display an expiration date and either remain valid or have expired sometime after the most recent General Election (Nov. 5, 2024). Note: Certain military and tribal IDs with “indefinite” expiration dates are acceptable.
- Issuing Authority: The ID must be issued by the State of Indiana, the U.S. federal government, or a federally recognized Native American tribe.
Common forms of acceptable identification include an Indiana driver’s license, an Indiana state photo ID card, a U.S. passport, a military ID, or an interim ID issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Student IDs issued by state universities and colleges are not accepted for voting purposes under Indiana law.
Exceptions and Provisional Ballots
Voters casting an absentee ballot by mail or utilizing a traveling board are exempt from presenting a physical photo ID at the polls, though separate identification protocols apply during the application process.
If an in-person voter does not present a qualifying ID, they are still entitled to cast a provisional ballot. To ensure the ballot is counted, the voter has until noon, 10 days after the election, to follow up with their county election board to present valid documentation or declare a statutory exemption.
Legal exemptions apply to:
- Indigent individuals who cannot afford an ID without paying a fee.
- Individuals with a religious objection to being photographed.
- Residents of state-licensed care facilities where the polling site is located.
How to Obtain a Free Indiana State ID
Indiana residents who do not currently possess valid photo identification can obtain a state photo ID card free of charge at any full-service BMV branch. Applicants must bring the required documentation to verify identity, Social Security number, Indiana residency, and legal status.
For details on acceptable documentation or branch locations, visit PhotoID.in.gov, in.gov/bmv, or contact the BMV at 888-692-6841.
