Identification required

Voters must show valid ID at polls next week

Laura McPhee

By Laura McPhee

Last month, U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker upheld Indiana’s law requiring Hoosiers to show photo identification in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, and beginning with the primary election next Tuesday, May 2, all Indiana voters must show a valid form of photo identification when casting their votes.

The Secretary of State’s Office has created a Web site dedicated to helping Indiana voters with the new law. The Web site, found at www.PhotoID.IN.gov, explains the exemptions under the law, what kinds of IDs are acceptable, how to get an ID, how to vote without an ID, how to vote absentee and what documents are necessary to get a free ID. The new site walks voters through the steps to get a free state-issued ID from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) as allowed by law, and allows voters to print off a checklist for required documents and an explanation of the new law to take with them to the BMV.

“These education initiatives are vital to providing Hoosiers with the information they need come Election Day,” according to Secretary of State Todd Rokita. “By putting significant money behind the campaign and drawing ideas from the Vote with ID Task Force, we are taking unprecedented steps to inform all Hoosiers about what they need to expect at the polls.”

In general, a photo ID must meet four criteria to be acceptable for voting purposes. It must display the voter’s photo; display the voter’s name (the name must conform with the voter registration); display an expiration date and either be current or have expired sometime after the date of the last General Election (Nov. 2, 2004); and it must be issued by the State of Indiana or the U.S. government.

In most cases, an Indiana driver’s license, Indiana photo ID card, U.S. passport or military ID is sufficient. A student ID from an Indiana state school may only be used if it meets all of the four criteria specified above. A student ID from a private institution may not be used for voting purposes.

Nineteen states have some form of voter identification law, but Indiana’s is considered one of the most stringent. Five other states require photo IDs, but most also allow school IDs or other non-government issued identification as an alternative.

Exemptions do exist for those with a religious objection to being photographed and those living in state-licensed facilities that serve as their precinct’s polling place.