As of April 2, Ballotpedia has tracked 26 election-related bills in the Indiana House of Representatives since the beginning of the year. Of the 26, Ballotpedia tracked six from March 27-April 2. Democrats sponsored five, while Republicans sponsored one. Five of six bills are below:
- IN HB1426: Poll hours, Reps. Patricia Boy (D), Chris Campbell (D), Sue Errington (D), and Tonya Pfaff (D).
- As introduced, this bill:
- Modifies the beginning time for counting absentee ballots from 6am to 7am on election day.
- Strikes 6pm as the closing time of polling stations in existing legislation and instead replaces it with “the close of polls.”
- As introduced, this bill:
- IN HB1380: Student ID card, Rep. Charles Moseley (D).
- As introduced, this bill:
- Adds approved post-secondary educational institution ID cards to the list of acceptable IDs for voter registration.
- Requires post-secondary institutions to issue an ID card without charge to qualified students, and to issue new cards upon expiration of original cards if the person is still a student.
- Lists required content of student ID cards.
- As introduced, this bill:
- IN HB1482: Same day voter registration, Rep. Vernon Smith (D).
- As introduced, this bill:
- Allows a voter to register or transfer registration on election day, and then vote a provisional ballot.
- Lists election day voter registration requirements, including administrative requirements, as well as required forms and voter ID.
- Outlines procedures for a provisional ballot if the individual does not have proper ID.
- Requires the county election board to provide each precinct with a sufficient number of registration forms and other documentation required for voter registration.
- Specifies procedures for the precinct election board and the county voter registration office, related to administration of same-day voter registration.
- Click the hyperlinked bill number above for more information.
- As introduced, this bill:
- IN HB1465: Threats against election workers, Rep. Blake Johnson (D).
- As introduced, this bill defines who is included in the term “election worker.” This bill also adds election workers to the list of individuals whom threatening is a level five felony.
- IN HB1383: Documents and procedures concerning elections, Rep. Matt Hostettler (R).
- As introduced, this bill:
- Provides that if a candidate withdraws a candidacy, that withdrawal will be used to update their voter registration address.
- Adds a required item, that is an electronic form of the sample ballot and provisional ballot, to the list of items for the county election board to deliver to each inspector.
- Provides that an electronic device may be used at a poll center to display a sample ballot or provisional ballot, if its only function is to display the ballots.
- Prohibits anyone from providing an individual with more than one absentee ballot application.
- Requires each county election board to provide each precinct an adequate number of sample ballots.
- As introduced, this bill:
During the week of March 27-April 2, Ballotpedia tracked 179 House election-related bills nationally. As of April 2, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,289 House bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most House bills this year in the Texas House of Representatives with 177, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest House bills in the Massachusetts House of Representatives with zero.
As of April 2, Ballotpedia has tracked 594 House bills in Democratic trifectas and 558 House bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 137 House bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.
The Indiana House is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 9 to April 27 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 12 House bills related to election administration. Two of these bills passed both chambers and both were enacted into law. Indiana is a Republican trifecta.
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