The Indiana House concurred Tuesday with the Senate’s amendments to House Bill 1334, which would increase requirements for absentee voters, in a 64-30 vote, sending it to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk. The bill was authored by Rep. Timothy Wesco, R-Osceola.
Under the bill, an agency of the state or political subdivision may not provide an individual with an application for an absentee ballot unless requested by the individual or a member of their family.
The bill would also have the absentee ballot application require that applicants include certain identification numbers or a photocopy of the person’s photo identification.
Groups such as Indiana Vote by Mail and Common Cause Indiana opposed the legislation, saying it would limit voting in a state already plagued with poor turnout and penalize those most dependent on casting an absentee ballot.
“It creates a number of different pitfalls, and because Indiana’s vote by mail law is very restrictive; 66% of the people utilizing it are senior citizens or people with disabilities,’’ said Julia Vaughn of Indiana Common Cause.
Rep. Tonya Pfaff (above), D-Terre Haute, opposed the bill.
“It is unnecessary to make it more difficult for the elderly … or those serving in the military to vote. It won’t make elections safer and only serves to hamper democracy. Please vote no,” Pfaff said.
