Dear Clerks and Election Administrators,
As we continue to work through the COVID-19 crisis, we are working hard to keep each county informed as soon as we have reliable information.
We have been working with the Indiana Republican Party and the Indiana Democratic Party to find a solution that is agreeable to both. The two-state parties have reached an agreement, and the Indiana Election Commission will meet on Friday, April 17th at 12:00 noon. The following policies are expected to be adopted:
- Poll workers, Absentee Board members, and Watchers are not required to live in the county they are serving, so long as they are registered to vote in Indiana
- The Commission will emphasize that ALL public buildings (fire stations, school buildings, etc.) must be made available for use as a polling place for the June 2nd Primary if the county requests it
- The Secretary of State and the Indiana Election Division shall provide counties with training on mail handling and in-person voting procedures. Any deviations from the provided guideline must be approved by the county’s health officer.
- Limited early voting to take place from May 26 (the Tuesday after Memorial Day) to June 1. 2020.
- Primary Election held on June 2 shall be conducted in strict compliance with Indiana Election law, except as provided in a legally binding order
- County election boards by unanimous vote may adopt a resolution to establish more than one location for counting absentee ballots based on the number of active voters in the county (No more than one location per 50,000 active voters).
- County election boards by a unanimous vote may relocate a precinct polling location or a vote center location after giving best possible notice to the public and filing a copy of the notice with the Indiana Election Division
- The county election board may notify a voter that the voter’s absentee ballot application or absentee ballot security envelope is defective to allow the voter to cure the issue under current Indiana law. The Indiana Election Commission advises the uniform and non-discriminatory application of such a policy.
- All absentee ballot applications submitted after December 2nd 2019 and not later than May 21st 2020 (12 days before the June 2nd Primary) should be accepted whether an excuse is given, provided they are otherwise compliant with Indiana law (This a clarification of the March 25th IEC order).
Italic font designates a new language since my last email to you. You’ll be hearing from us soon regarding PPE that has been procured by the state on your behalf. We are attempting to purchase masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, e/PB/voting system/general surface cleaners and microfiber towels.
We’ll continue to update you with information as we receive it. There still could be multiple moving targets in this primary election, so your patience is appreciated as we navigate these waters together.
Thank you for everything you do.
Indiana Secretary of State
