Hoosiers soon may no longer need to cite a specific reason for voting by absentee ballot. On Monday, state Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond, won unanimous approval from the Senate Elections Committee for his proposal allowing any registered voter to cast their ballot by mail prior to Election Day. Current law requires voters identify one of 13 excuses for voting absentee, such as being out of town on Election Day, lacking transportation to the polls or observing a religious holiday.
Mrvan’s Senate Bill 250 deletes the obligation that a voter explain why they want to cast their ballot absentee.
“I think the absentee ballot is very, very important, and we should broaden it so everybody has the opportunity and there’s no excuse for anybody not to vote,” Mrvan said.
The change would make absentee voting by mail similar to early voting, where no excuse is required to fill out your ballot in-person during the month prior to Election Day at the county clerk’s office or a satellite voting site.
Full Article: Indiana could eliminate excuse requirement for voting absentee by mail | Indiana | kokomoperspective.com.