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Indiana Political Parties Want Vote-By-Mail For May Primary

Lauren Chapman/ Seth Tackett
/
IPB News/WTIU

The leaders of Indiana’s two major political parties want all Hoosiers to be able to vote by mail in May’s primary.

In a letter to the Indiana Election Commission, GOP Chair Kyle Hupfer and Democratic Party Chair John Zody say Hoosier voters have legitimate concerns about voting in person this May.

Current law only allows vote-by-mail if the person is totally unable to be at the polls on Election Day – for instance, if they’re going to be out of town, if they’re confined to a health care facility or their home, or if they’re a member of the military.

Zody and Hupfer want the Election Commission to eliminate those requirements and allow all registered voters who want one to receive a ballot in the mail and cast their votes.

The Election Commission can do so under current law, by a unanimous vote of its four members – two Republicans and two Democrats. It has not yet scheduled a meeting.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
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