Indiana Secretary of State of the Approaching Voter Registration Deadline for the May 8th Primary

04/05/12 Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, Indiana’s chief election officer, urges eligible Hoosiers to register to vote or to update a voter registration for the upcoming primary election.  New Indiana voters or voters who have moved or changed their name since the last election must update their registration by April 9^th. The primary election is on Tuesday, May 8.

“It is my hope to encourage all eligible Indiana voters to participate in this year’s elections,” said Secretary Lawson. “The initial measure in fulfilling this civic duty is to ensure proper registration, either as a new voter or with an appropriate updated voter registration.”

Anyone not yet registered to vote may register in-person at his or her county voter registration office, county clerk’s office, or any Bureau of Motor Vehicles license branch. Voters may also mail in their registration form, which can be printed from http://www.indianavoters.com. Mailed registration forms must be postmarked by the same April 9^th deadline.

Indiana voters who possess a current, valid Indiana driver’s license or BMV identification card may also register on-line at http://www.indianavoters.com through 11:59 p.m., April 9^th.

Indiana residents are eligible to vote in the primary if they

· Will be at least 18 years of age at the next General Election on November 6, 2012,

· Are a citizen of the United States and a resident of Indiana,

· Are not currently in prison after being convicted of a crime, and

· Will have lived in the precinct where they plan to vote for at least 30 days prior to the election.

Although some “fail-safe” procedures permit certain voters to update their registrations after that date, not every voter will qualify to use those procedures. Meeting the April 9^th deadline for updating registration records is critically important.

Secretary Lawson recommends all Hoosiers prepare for Election Day by visiting http://www.indianavoters.comor calling the Hoosier Voter Hotline, 866-IN-1-VOTE to ensure they are registered to vote or to locate their polling place. Information is also available on how to request and/or cast an absentee ballot and details about Indiana’s photo ID requirement to vote.

Voter registration for the November 6, 2012 General Election begins May 22^nd and closes October 9^th.