Voter Registration Process in Indiana - Important Details Revealed

Introduction to Voter Introduction to Voter Registration in Indiana Registration in Indiana Brad King, Co-Director Indiana Election Division December 12, 2022 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 1

Registration Basics Registration Basics Why do we have voter registration? The Indiana Constitution (article 2, Section 14(c)) requires the General Assembly to provide for registration of all persons eligible to vote No automatic voter registration Each voter must take responsibility for applying to register When is a person registered to vote? A person is not registered to vote when they sign the application or when the application is received by the county. Instead, when the county approves the application and sends confirmation to the applicant and following a seven-day pending period to see if the confirmation notice is returned by the USPS. 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 2

Voter Registration in Indiana Voter Registration in Indiana Combination of Federal and state law National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) Federal law originally known as Motor Voter IC 3-7 and 3-14 State Voter Registration Officials Brad King and Angie Nussmeyer are designated as co- chief state election officials responsible for NVRA responsibilities 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 3

Voter Registration in Indiana Voter Registration in Indiana Local Voter Registration Officials In most counties, the Circuit Court Clerk is the VR official In Allen, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, St. Joseph, Vanderburgh, and Vigo Counties, there is a bi-partisan 2-member Board of Registration In Lake & Porter County, the Director of the Board of Elections and Voter Registration is the VR official In Tippecanoe County, the 3-member Board of Elections and Voter Registration is the chief VR official IC 3-7-12, generally | IC 3-6-5.2 | IC 3-6-5.4 | IC 3-6-5.6 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 4

Voter Registration in Indiana Voter Registration in Indiana Counties with a bi-partisan Board of Voter Registration Members act jointly with disputes referred to the County Election Board Registration Board Members are appointed by major party chairs and serve at the pleasure of the chair County Commissioners can establish or abolish County Board of Voter Registration by unanimous vote Except Marion County Specifically required by law to have a separate board 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 5

Voter Registration Agency Partners Voter Registration Agency Partners Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) license branches Public Assistance Agencies State Programs Serving Individuals with Disabilities Additional Offices Designated by Counties State of Indiana Department of Employment and Training Services State, County, or Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) State Department of Health (ISDH) 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 6

Statewide Voter Registration Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS) System (SVRS) Since December 2005, all 92 counties have been linked together with the state, BMV, ISDH, and SSA for transmittal of voter registration data required by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 7

U.S. Election Assistance U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Commission (EAC) Established through HAVA to work with states on implementation and election administration Collects VR data for the EAVS survey conducted after each federal election (2022, 2024 ) Comprehensive survey includes: where new registrations come from how many were submitted, approved and rejected How many records have been cancelled following voter list maintenance efforts We use five-digit numbers (such as, 46913) to identify where the voter registered using a VRG-6 registration application Federal applications do not have the number This five-digit number is confidential because federal law says where a person registered is confidential 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 8

BMV BMV Voter registration application offered only as part of certain transactions For example, obtaining or renewing a driver s license or state ID card If a voter chooses to apply, the applicant receives a receipt that is important proof of their application The application is electronic and will be transmitted directly to the county for processing BMV branches have extended hours on the day before and on Election Day 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 9

Public Assistance Agencies Public Assistance Agencies Division of Family Resources Clients for Medicaid, TANF and SNAP State Department of Health Clients for WIC Death records Agencies providing programs primarily for individuals with disabilities State of Indiana Department of Employment and Training Services Clients using unemployment resources These agencies are not directly linked to SVRS and must send paper copies of the VRG-6 (voter registration application) directly to county voter registration offices. 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 10

Public Assistance Agencies Public Assistance Agencies County and Municipal law enforcement agencies County Sheriff, City Police Chief, Town Marshal Must offer a voter registration application to individuals applying for gun permit Must receive written confirmation if individuals applying for a gun permit decline to complete a voter registration form Applications and denial documentation must be forwarded to county voter registration officials Additional designated full-service agencies Some counties designated these agencies following NVRA, these agencies are grandfathered, but do not have a link to SVRS 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 11

Questions? Questions? Contact us at: Brad King, Co-Director Angie Nussmeyer, Co-Director bking@iec.in.gov anussmeyer@iec.in.gov (317) 233-0929 (317) 232-3940 Valerie Warycha, Co-Counsel Matthew Kochevar, Co-Counsel vawarycha@iec.in.gov mkocheavar@iec.in.gov (317) 232-3929 (317) 232-3942 12/12/2022 - 12/14/2022 2023 Election Administrator's Conference 12