Voting 101:: a nonpartisan primer
Last week our Mom-in-Chief, Jeanine Bobenmoyer sat down with Rhea Cain, President of the League of Women Voters of Indianapolis to share a primer on the ins and outs of voting in a presidential election and answered all of our burning questions. We believe voting is extremely important and want you to be armed with the best information possible to make your voting plan. So check out all the basics you need to know before you hit the polls this Fall.The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization. “We are actually the oldest nonpartisan civic organization in the United States,” said Rhea. Founded in 1920 after {white} women gained the right to vote, the League’s goal is to encourage and educate voters on how to navigate the voting process. {Did you know most women of color didn’t gain the right to vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed?} The Local, state, and national chapters of the League of Women voters are membership organizations open to individuals of all gender identities, and all citizen statuses, from age 16 and up.
Voting in Indiana
Indiana has one of the earliest voter cut-off dates in the U.S., so if you are not already registered, you will be ineligible to participate in this election cycle.
Basic requirements to vote in Indiana
Must be 18 years of age on or before election day
Must be a citizen of the united states
You are required to cast your ballot in English
You may request to have someone assist you with reading your ballot.
Must be registered to vote {registration closed already}.
How can you vote?
Absentee ballots
Indiana is one of a handful of states left that require voters have a reason to vote by mail. We are not a vote by mail state. In those states, every registered voter is mailed a ballot and can choose to mail it in, deliver to a drop box, or still vote in person.There are nine reasons provided, and you must meet one of those criteria to vote absentee in Indiana.
You have a specific, reasonable expectation that you will be absent from the county on Election Day during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open {6 a.m. until 6 p.m.}.
You have a disability.
You are at least 65 years of age.
You will have official election duties outside of your voting precinct.
You are scheduled to work at your regular place of employment during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
You will be confined due to illness or injury or you will be caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
You are prevented from voting because of a religious discipline or religious holiday during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
You are a participant in the state's address confidentiality program.
You are a member of the military or a public safety officer.
You are a "serious sex offender" as defined in Indiana Code 35-42-4-14(a).
You are prevented from voting due to the unavailability of transportation to the polls.
If you have requested an absentee ballot, that is your ballot and in order for your vote to be counted you must use that ballot. You may return your ballot
By mail, it is recommended to do so no later than October 19
You can hand deliver your ballot to one of the early voting sites or a polling site on election day before noon. It has to be you, someone from your household {someone you are related to}, or someone who has power of attorney to deliver that ballot.
Early voting
All 92 counties in Indiana, beginning October 6 will have early voting locations. Marion County will have six early voting locations open beginning on October 24, more than ever. All registered voters are able to participate in early voting.“Be prepared, no matter how you vote, whether that’s early in-person or on election day, you’re going to stand in a line,” explained Rhea. “That being said, if you are someone who cannot stand comfortably, there is no shame in bringing a chair.”On election dayThe polls are open from 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, and as long as you are in line before the polls close, you will be able to cast your vote. If you live in Marion County, you can vote at any polling location in Marion County. Indyvotes.org to find the closest polling locations to your address. There will be 187 polling sites in Marion County on election Day.
In-person voting information
To vote in-person early or on election day you must have a photo ID. Your driver’s license address does not have to match the address at which you are registered to vote. Your ID can be an Indiana issued driver’s license, state ID, military ID, Indiana state university or college ID {must have your picture and expiration date}, a public high school ID, or a passport.If you have any questions about how to work a polling machine, do not understand how many people to vote for, or are having difficulty understanding the language in a referendum, as a poll worker. They are there to assist you.While you are required to cast your vote in English in Indiana, if you are not an English-speaking citizen, or have another disability that would prevent you from reading your ballot, you may bring someone for assistance.And get those kids involved in our democracy. Children are able to come with you to the polls, there are no age requirements. “Be aware, polling locations are following social distancing protocols and voters and accompanying minors are asked to follow all local and state mandates,” reminded Rhea.
VOTING IS JUST ONE OF OUR FAV THINGS TO DO IN THE FALL : Check out the rest on our 2020 Fall Bucket List
Election Volunteers
Rhea was thrilled to share than more than 4,000 Hoosiers applied for just 2,000 poll worker positions, a positive indicator for voter turnout this year. If you were hoping to volunteer at the polls, that won’t be possible this year. However, consider reaching out to your County Clerk’s office to volunteer at central counting and assist with absentee ballots.
How does a candidate win the presidency?
The president is officially put into place by the Electoral College, and they don’t meet until a few weeks after the election day to officially confirm the results. Electors comprising the Electoral College, are selected at party conventions throughout the state. The electors are comprised of more than one political party. Some states do mandate that the Electors in the College must vote the way the popular vote in their state goes, while others allow the electoral votes of that state to be divided. To win the election, a candidate must receive 270 electoral votes {out of a possible 538}. It is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote {total number of votes cast} and lose the electoral vote. It has happened 5 times in our history and twice since 2000 {Gore/Bush and Trump/Clinton}
“It is an antiquated system based on systemic racism and inequality,” explained Rhea. Shortly after the founding of the United States, the Southern states argued they needed representation based off their total population of citizens, even though at that time, Black slaves were afforded no citizenships rights {such as the right to vote}. Thus, the 3/5ths Compromise was made, where Black men were counted as 3/5ths of a human and from there the Electoral College was born, giving more electoral weight per capita to less populous states.
“To have a system to elect the president of the United States that it is based on the oppression of a group of people is not acceptable,” said Rhea, explaining the League of Women Voters is in favor of abolishing the Electoral College. There are two ways it can go away- a constitutional amendment or the National Popular Vote Compact {enough states agreeing to pledge their votes to the winner of the national popular vote} “The biggest threat to the electoral college is if every eligible American voter, voted.”After the Electoral College has confirmed the election results, the United States places great pride in the peaceful transfer of power and the newly elected or re-elected president will be sworn in on January 20, 2021 during the Inauguration Ceremony.
Before heading to the polls, visit www.LWVIndy.org and www.Vote411.org for all of your voting information, see which candidates are on your ballot, and learn about their stance on important issues. Join the League of Women Voters of Indianapolis for the Know Your Voting Rights webinar on October 15 from 6:30- 8 p.m. And learn more about them at or follow the league on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
