Indiana House Bill 1334 increasing requirements for absentee voting heads to the governor

Under the bill, an agency of the state or political subdivision may not provide an individual with an application for an absentee ballot unless requested by the individual or a member of their family. 

The bill would also have the absentee ballot application require that applicants include certain identification numbers or a photocopy of the person’s photo identification.

Groups such as Indiana Vote by Mail and Common Cause Indiana opposed the legislation, saying it would limit voting in a state already plagued with poor turnout and penalize those most dependent on casting an absentee ballot. 

“It creates a number of different pitfalls, and because Indiana's vote by mail law is very restrictive; 66% of the people utilizing it are senior citizens or people with disabilities,’’ said Julia Vaughn of Common Cause Indiana. 

Rep. Tonya Pfaff, D-Terre Haute, opposed the bill. 

“It is unnecessary to make it more difficult for the elderly … or those serving in the military to vote. It won't make elections safer and only serves to hamper democracy. Please vote no,” Pfaff said.