LAWRENCE CO. – The Secretary of State’s Election Division is conducting voter list maintenance to update Indiana’s voter registration information.
“I had a few people asking me about the mailers that the Secretary of State Election Division sent out to confirm addresses,” said Lawrence County Clerk Amy Voohies. “They are just now sending out the second set of postcards.”
Required by law, the process identifies outdated and inaccurate voter registration information to help counties improve the accuracy and integrity of Indiana’s voter registration list.
The process begins with all Hoosier voters in “active” status receiving a postcard sent by non-forwardable first-class mail to their mailing address. The postcard tells voters if they are the addressee on the postcard that no further action is required. If they are not the addressee, they will be instructed to write “Return to Sender” on the postcard and to mail it back.
If the first mailing is returned as undeliverable, a second postcard will be sent to the forwardable address on file with the US Postal Service.
The second postcard will ask the voter to confirm or update their residence address or cancel their Indiana voter registration using a postage-pre-paid voter response card.
Voters who received a second postcard have until August 31, 2023, to confirm or update their voter information, though the state recommends placing the postage pre-paid card in the mail not later than August 24, 2023, to arrive by this deadline Having an “inactive” status does not mean a voter cannot vote. It simply means a voter did not update or confirm their voter registration address information. The voter will still be eligible to vote in the primary, general, and/or any special elections in 2023, 2024, and 2026, if otherwise qualified. If the voter casts a ballot in any one of those elections from that address, they will be reclassified as an active voter. A voter’s registration record status will be moved from “inactive” to “canceled” if the person does not vote in any election prior to January 2027 or fails to update their registration.
A person’s voter registration record is never removed from the statewide voter registration system. Instead, the record is flagged as “active,” “inactive,” or “canceled.” A status of “canceled” means the voter’s name is not listed on the Election Day poll list. However, a person with a “canceled” registration status may qualify for a fail-safe under state law and vote a regular ballot, if the individual makes an oral or written affirmation that the person continues to reside at the registration address noted in the statewide voter registration system and is otherwise eligible.
