The general election may be seven months away, but thousands of Hoosiers will begin making important civic decisions in April. 

A deadline looms for anyone looking to register to vote in the state’s May 7 primary election, which is used to select which candidates will represent their respective political parties in the Nov. 5 general election. Given Republicans’ dominance of statewide executive offices, such as governor and lieutenant governor, and both houses of the Indiana General Assembly, this primary will be a key component in selecting the next wave of Hoosier leaders. 

>> Related: What happens after the Indiana primary election?

The window for early primary voting opens next week. Here is what you need to know in order to participate in the Indiana primary. 

When is the last day to register to vote in the primary election? 

Voter registration for the primary election will run through April 8. No one who registers after this date will be able to participate in the primary, but anyone who signs up by Oct. 7 will be eligible to vote in the general election. 

There are three ways to register: 

• Online through indianavoters.com
• In person at any county voter registration office or the Indiana Election Division location in downtown Indianapolis. You may also register at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles location, provided you are also completing a transaction such as renewing your driver’s license. Check indianavoters.com for your closest registration point.
• By mailing a voter registration form into your county voter registration office or the Indiana Election Division. 

In order to register to vote in Indiana, a person must: Be a U.S. citizen, have a valid state ID, be 18 years old, not be in prison and have lived in their voting precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election. 

When does early voting begin in Indiana? 

Early, in-person voting for the primary election will run from April 9 until noon May 6. Check indianavoters.com for a list of early voting locations. Remember: Indiana requires all voters to show a valid government ID. 

Is voting by mail allowed? 

Yes, but Indiana has various requirements for voting absentee by mail. Applications must be submitted before each election. The deadline to get an application in for this year’s primary election will be 11:59 p.m. April 25.

Absentee ballots must be received by 6 p.m. May 7. 

Must a voter register for a specific party? 

No. In Indiana, voters may select either a Republican or Democratic ballot at the polls. Third parties, such as the Libertarian Party of Indiana, select their own nominees who move directly to the general election. 

Contact Rory Appleton on X at @roryehappleton or email him at [email protected]. 

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