( Indianapolis ) – Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita announced today a 23 percent increase in absentee voting statewide for the 2010 primary election compared to the 2006 primary election, the most recent primary with a similarly anticipated voter turnout. The total of reported absentee ballots requested includes mail-in applications along with in-person absentee ballots cast. The number of Hoosiers casting absentee ballots will increase through Monday at noon, the deadline for absentee voting at county clerk’s offices or satellite voting offices.
“Absentee voting empowers Hoosiers to take part in voting, the cornerstone of our democracy, on their own terms, especially if voting on Election Day is difficult for them or impossible,” said Secretary Rokita. “It allows Hoosiers to participate from all corners of the globe, such as those in the military stationed overseas. Hoosiers are becoming more aware and more comfortable with the options they can exercise to make their voice heard and their vote count.”
Even with three additional days of in-person absentee voting remaining, absentee voting for the 2010 primary election was up 23 percent compared to the 2006 primary election as of the end of the day Thursday, April 29. More than 32,000 Hoosiers had cast ballots in-person with their county clerk, an increase of over 6,000 voters from 2006.
To date, 79,228 Hoosiers have requested an absentee ballot for the 2010 primary election. In 2006, 61,345 Hoosiers cast an absentee ballot in the primary, the most recent primary election with an anticipated voter turnout similar to 2010. In 2008, a record 185,692 Hoosiers cast an absentee ballot in the primary. That year’s primary saw unprecedented voter turnout due in large part to interest in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary.
For the 2010 primary, 3,542 military and overseas voters have requested absentee ballots compared to 415 in 2006 and 2,452 in 2008.
Hoosiers who want to cast an absentee ballot in-person have until noon, local prevailing time, on Monday, May 3 to vote at their county clerk’s office or satellite voting office. Mail-in absentee ballots must be received on or before Election Day.
Hoosier voters can visit www.indianavoters.com <<a href=”http://www.indianavoters.com”>http://www.indianavoters.com> to:
Find absentee voting applications,
Find information on how to prepare for Election Day,
Determine if they are registered to vote,
Find information on Indiana ’s photo ID requirement,
Locate their polling place, and
Find information on how to cast an absentee ballot.
