Statehouse proposals put more hurdles in place for Hoosier voters: Report

Indiana has consistently ranked among the bottom 10 states in voter turnout for over a decade, but rather than addressing this issue, the state’s Republican supermajority is pushing legislation to further restrict voting access. Senate Bill 10, introduced by Republicans Blake Doriot and Dr. Tyler Johnson, prohibits student IDs as valid voter identification, mandates biannual voter list maintenance, and imposes stricter inactive voter verification requirements. Critics argue the bill is rooted in unfounded fears of voter fraud, with no evidence that student IDs are less reliable than other forms of identification. This legislation risks suppressing student and minority voter turnout, reported the Journal Gazette.

Additional bills include SB 284, which would cut early in-person voting from 28 to 14 days, and SB 210, which would close Indiana’s primary elections to independent voters. These measures are likely to increase voting barriers, creating longer lines, overburdening election workers, and disenfranchising a significant portion of the electorate, including seniors, voters with disabilities, and independents. Indiana, already ranked 41st in voting accessibility, faces even lower voter turnout if these bills pass, further harming democracy in the state.