Early voting for the Indiana primary election starts today. Here's what you need to know

Katie Wiseman and Kayla Dwyer, Indianapolis Star

Election Day is still a month away, but Hoosiers can start casting their ballots for the May 7 primary election this week.

There's a number of important races on the ballot across the state. On the Republican side, there are six gubernatorial candidates to choose from and two presidential candidates who made it on the ballot. Although former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has dropped out of the race, she's still on the Indiana Republican ballot facing former President Donald Trump.

Those who choose to pull a Democratic primary ballot will only have one choice for president, Joe Biden, and one choice for governor, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick.

Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans alike will get to help select their party's nominee to represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives. That's in addition to other local races on the ballot across the state.

April 8 was your last chance to register to vote. Here's what you need to know about voting early.

When does early voting start in Indiana?

For the primary election, early voting runs from Tuesday, April 9, to noon Monday, May 6.

What do I need to vote early in Indiana?

If you are already registered to vote and have a photo ID, you can vote early in person.

Where can I vote early in Indiana?

If you live in Marion County, from April 9 to May 6, the only place you can vote early is the Indianapolis City-County Building.

For a full list of early voting locations from April 27 to May 5, visit vote.indy.gov/early-voting.

For other counties, check with your county clerk to find out where you can vote early.

When is the deadline to register to vote in Indiana primary election?

You must register to vote at least 29 days before the election in which you want to vote, so that means the deadline for the 2024 primary election was the end of the business day on Monday, April 8.

When is Indiana primary election 2024?

The Indiana primary election is on May 7. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day.

How to register to vote in Indiana

If you missed the chance to register for the primary election, you still have plenty of time to register before the general election in November.

The deadline to register is the end of the business day on Monday, Oct. 7. The general election is Nov. 5.

The state of Indiana has a website where you can check your voter registration status, update it, or register to vote for the first time. That voter portal is indianavoters.in.gov.

2024 primary: Everything you need to know about Indiana's primary election

You can also call or visit your county's voter registration office. Paper forms can also be found at township trustee offices and at branches of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. In Marion County, public library branches also have forms.

To register to vote, you must:

  • Have a valid Indiana Driver's License or Indiana State Identification Card.

  • Be a citizen of the United States.

  • Be at least 18 years old on or before the next election.

  • Have lived in your precinct for at least 30 days before the next election.

  • Not be currently imprisoned after being convicted of a crime.

What is the deadline to apply to vote by mail in Indiana?

If you are sick, injured, scheduled to work or unable to find transportation to the polls and need an absentee ballot, you need to submit an application by April 25.

If you have applied to vote by mail in the past, you need to reapply each election.

You can find the application on the Secretary of State's website. You can also pick up an application in person at your county election office, or call and ask for one to be mailed to you. Or, you can apply online at indianavoters.in.gov.

The full list of valid reasons to request an absentee vote-by-mail ballot can also be found on the online application.

You'll also need to provide a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID, or write one of these four numbers on your application: Indiana driver's license number, Indiana ID card number, unique voter identification number or the last four digits of your social security number.

You can hand deliver, mail, email or fax your application to the county election office, but the office must receive it no later 11:59 p.m. on April 25.

For more information about polls and the general election, check out the article below.

Indiana voter registration guide: How to check voter status, options to vote, what to know

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

Katie Wiseman is a trending news intern at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter@itskatiewiseman.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana primary election 2024: Early voting begins April 9

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