By Marilyn Odendahl
The Indiana Citizen
April 2, 2026
As the April 6 deadline for registering to vote approaches, the League of Women Voters of Indiana is not only encouraging Hoosiers to get on the voter roll but also advising those who are registered and have cast a ballot in recent elections to double-check their status.
“I’m telling everybody to check, because we honestly do not know,” Linda Hanson, president of the organization, said.
The May primary will be the first election held in Indiana since the state’s proof-of-citizenship laws took effect in July 2025 and since Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales turned over the state’s entire voter roll to the U.S. Department of Justice last fall.
Under the new proof-of-citizenship voter laws, anyone who used a temporary credential from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to register to vote may be flagged as a noncitizen and therefore ineligible to participate in elections.
These individuals, according to the law, will be notified and must provide proof of their legal status within 30 days. If they do not submit documentation in time, they will be removed from the voter roll.
Hanson is concerned that people who register on Monday, April 6, and subsequently are required to show proof of citizenship will not have 30 days to act before the May 5 primary. Moreover, the letters requesting verification of legal status are mailed through the U.S. Postal Service, which could bring additional delays and shorten the time available for people to prove they are U.S citizens.
As a result, Hanson said, eligible voters could be blocked from the polls.
“I am concerned about the mess that this is going to cause potentially,” Hanson said.
The consequences of transferring Hoosiers’ voter information to the Justice Department are unclear. Most states have refused the demand from the federal government, but Indiana is one of at least 10 that have turned over their voter rolls.
Reviewing the confidential memorandum of understanding that the states were asked to sign, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law concluded the DOJ is planning to encroach on states’ authority to run elections. The department intends to analyze the voter rolls and then flag individuals for the states to remove.
“The federal government does not have the tools or the expertise to conduct such list maintenance, and it is anyone’s guess how it will undertake its ‘analysis’ of the voter rolls it obtains, creating a real risk of voters being improperly flagged for removal,” Eileen O’Connor, senior counsel and manager in the Brennan Center’s Voting Rights and Elections Program, wrote in her February 2026 report.
The Indiana Citizen asked the Indiana Secretary of State’s office about the status of the state’s voter rolls. The SOS was asked for the number of Hoosiers who have been identified as potential noncitizens under the Indiana statute and whether any Hoosier has been flagged or removed from the voter rolls at the request of the Justice Department.
The Secretary of State’s office did not respond.
This week, Morales issued a press release reminding Hoosiers that they can register or confirm their registration status by visiting IndianaVoters.com. They have until the close of business on April 6 to register in-person at their county election office or until 11:59 p.m. to register online.
“(Voting) is one of the most important rights we have as Americans,” Morales said in a press release. “I encourage every eligible Hoosier who has not yet registered to vote to do so before the deadline.”
According to the secretary of state, 4.71 million Hoosiers are currently registered to vote.
Hanson has seen more interest in voting this year than in previous elections. Pointing to the 60-plus No Kings rallies that were planned across the state on Saturday, March 28, and the large number of protesters who went to the Statehouse in December to push back – and ultimately defeat – midcycle redistricting, she said these indicators show people not only want to have a say in what is happening but also realize their voices can actually be heard.
“I think it’s a good sign that there are people who are more concerned that they will show up to vote,” Hanson said. “So that’s why we’re trying to make sure everybody knows what they need when they get to the polling place and what they need to be able to register.”
Likewise, Prosperity Indiana is encouraging its supporters to register and vote in the May 5 election. In an email headlined “Our Homes, Our Votes,” the anti-poverty nonprofit based in Indianapolis did not advocate for any candidate or party, but rather reminded people to make sure they are ready and able to participate at the ballot box.
In particular, Prosperity Indiana reminded registered voters to make sure their registration is active and up to date. Especially for voters who have moved, their current address must be listed on the registration.
“Voter participation in our state is a persistent challenge with only 40% of registered Hoosier voters typically casting ballots in elections,” Andrew Bradley, senior director of policy and strategy for Prosperity Indiana, wrote in the email. “More Hoosiers care than cast ballots, but we can change that by making sure we are registered, showing up, and helping the people close to us show up too.”
To be able to register to vote, Hoosiers must:
Early voting for the May primary starts April 7. Information on voting times and locations can also be found at IndianaVoters.com.
Dwight Adams, an editor and writer based in Indianapolis, edited this article. He is a former content editor, copy editor and digital producer at The Indianapolis Star and IndyStar.com, and worked as a planner for other newspapers, including the Louisville Courier Journal.
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org
