Learn more about some of our most frequently asked questions about voting and elections. For more information visit the Indiana State Government Voter Information Portal. Or visit the Marion County Voter Portal for local information.
2024 Election Dates and Deadlines
- Monday, October 7, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline (online, by mail, and in-person)
Find out how to register to vote in Indiana.
On this site you can confirm your voter registration status, start or update your voter registration, learn how to register to vote by mail or in-person, or download the National Voter Registration Form in English and multiple additional languages. - Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Early Voting Begins at the Indianapolis City-County Building
200 E. Washing St., W122
Indianaplis, IN 46204 - Thursday, October 24, 2024
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot
Find out how to apply for an absentee ballot. - Saturday, October 26, 2024
Satellite Site Voting Begins
Find an early voting location. - Monday, November 4, 2024
Early Voting Ends - Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Election Day
Find a convenient IndyVOTES Center.
All registered Marion County voters can vote at any Vote Center on Election Day.
Remember to bring ID
You must have your valid photo ID issued by the state of Indiana or the federal government with you. The Supreme Court upheld the requirement of an Indiana State ID to vote. Public Law 109-2005 requires Indiana residents to present a government-issued photo ID.
This law requires your photo ID to meet four criteria to be acceptable for voting purposes. See the four requirements your photo ID must include.
Where can I get an ID?
VoteRiders provides 100% free voter assistance. Get help:
- obtaining documents (birth certificates, change of name records, etc.)
- arranging rides to and from ID–issuing offices
- providing copies of ID for those eligible to vote by mail
Contact by phone 844-338-8743.
Frequently Asked Questions
Voting Basics
Why should I vote?
The National Geographic Society provides good information on why it is important that everyone exercise their right to vote
What are my rights as a voter?
The Indiana Voters Bill of Rights available in English and Spanish.
I am a college student, what should I know about voting?
The Student Voting Guide specifically helps students better understand how to vote.
What is the Electoral College and how does it work?
For an explanation of how the college works, including statistics and historical counts, visit the National Archives and Records Administration.
How can I find out who my current government representatives are?
Your current elected officials can be accessed at the Voter Information Portal. You can click on the yellow icon “Find Elected Officials” to pull up a map and enter your address. Then you can choose Federal, State, County, Township, or school officials.
You may also view maps of your districts at Indiana Election Division – Statistics and Maps. If you have questions about your districts, you can call the Marion County Board of Voter Registrationat 317-327-5042.
Preparing to Vote
How can I turn in my registration form?
Registration forms may be mailed to or dropped off at the Marion County Board of Voter Registration. According to the Indiana Secretary of State’s Election Division, to vote in a primary or general election, you must register at least twenty-nine (29) days before that election. Additionally, a mail-in voter registration application must be postmarked at least twenty-nine (29) days in advance of the election.
Can I (avoid long waits and) vote early?
All registered Indiana voters are eligible to vote early in-person. See more information on how to vote early in Indiana.
Where is my polling place?
Find out where to vote by choosing “Find Your Polling Place” on the Voter Information Portal.
What if I can’t vote on Election Day?
For people who cannot travel to their polling place on Election Day, an absentee ballot can be used. To see if you are eligible to vote absentee, or to download an online application, go to the Marion County Election Voter Information Portal Absentee Forms. Also, you may call the Election Board at 317-327-8683 to have a form mailed to you. Early voters, military and overseas voters, and a travelling board for sick, injured or disabled voters and their caregivers may all be eligible for absentee voting.
Know the Candidates
Who are the candidates running for office?
To find a list of candidates on the ballot that you will be voting for, you can access them at the Voter Information Portal. Click on the yellow icon “Who’s on the Ballot?” You will need to put in your name and your birthdate as well as the county where you are registered to vote. You will find a list of the candidates who currently on the ballot.
Where can I find information about the candidates?
To find out more about each candidate you can easily find them online by searching their names on Google. Remember to consider who is providing the information on any site about a candidate and consider if the site may be biased. One reliable site is called Ballot Ready presented by the National Science Foundation, the Knight Foundation, and the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.
Where can I check the facts I find?
There are several good sites for fact checking – two easy-to-use options are Fact Check and Politifact. Another interesting one is NewsGuard, which works as a Chrome browser extension.
Election Day
What if I need a ride to my polling place to vote?
The Marion County Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican parties provide transportation to the polls to residents of Marion County. When calling, first give your name, then provide your address, and finally, include your telephone number.
Libertarian Party of Marion County
8063 Madison Avenue #1003
Indianapolis, IN 46227 (317) 985-7985
Marion County Democratic Party
156 East Market Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 377-4340
Marion County Republican Party
101 West Ohio Street Suite 2200
Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 964-5050
Where can I find election results?
Official Marion County election results are available from the Voter Information Portal. Click on “Election Night Results” or on “Historical Election Results.”. Official results from current and past elections throughout the state of Indiana are provided by the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State’s office.
The Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives also provides Election Statistics from 1920 to 2014.
Reading Recommendations from IndyPL Staff
VOTING MATTERS
Leaders at the local and national level play a role in shaping our local communities, and your vote is responsible for selecting those leaders. Former Candidate for Indiana State Senate, Belinda Drake, will speak at the East 38th St. Branch on Tuesday, October 11th, at 5:30 pm, about the importance of voting and getting involved to make a difference. Here is a selection of resources about voting rights and how our votes matter.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
On August 6, 1965, US President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law. This federal legislation aimed “to enforce the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution” and to eliminate discriminatory practices and arbitrary barriers to voting imposed at the state and local level. Explore this cross-generational list of books, graphic novels and DVDs to learn more about the history and the importance of this law in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Politics, Public Service, Activism and the Press
The headliners, history makers, and their influence on culture and politics.
Elections and Voting for Kids – It’s a Big Deal!
Choose a book or two from this list to learn about the United States election process, who can vote, and the history of how each has developed over the last 200+ years. Find out the answers to some puzzling FAQs: What’s a ballot? What is a poll? What does suffrage mean? Why couldn’t Black people vote? Why couldn’t women vote? You can read a general history or focus on one issue, event, or person who made a difference.
