Register to Vote

Voter Registration Questions and Answers

When registering to vote in Indiana, a person does not declare party affiliation.

You can register to vote in Indiana, if you are:  1) 18 years old by the day of the general election; 2)  A United States citizen; 3)  Have lived in your precinct in Indiana for at least 30 days before the next general election; and 4)  Not currently in prison after conviction of a crime.

If you have a non-traditional residence, you still have the right to register and vote.  Simply draw a map on the voter registration application indicating where you live (where you usually spend the night) and list a mailing address within your county that can be used to mail your notification that you are registered.

You can call your voter registration office to find out if you are currently registered to vote at that address.  The Elkhart County Voter Registration Office can be reached at 574-535-6775 or 574-535-6774.  They are located at the County Office Building, 117 N. Second St., Goshen (lower level).

If you are turning 18 before or on the next general election date, you can register.  You can vote in both the primary and general election, even if you are not 18 on the primary election date.  However, you will not be eligible to vote on school board members, political party precinct committeemen, or political party state convention delegates elected at the primary election.

You may register to vote in person at the Voter Registration Office, 117 N. Second St., Goshen (lower level).  You may also register to vote in Indiana by mail on a simple, pre-addressed form that you can pick up at public libraries, county clerk's offices, license branches, and local school corporations.  Mail-in registration forms are also included with Indiana income tax return forms.

You only need to fill out a simple form that asks for name, address, birth date and a voter identification number.  You will also be required to check boxes on the form to indicate that your are a U.S. citizen, and will be 18 years of age on or before election day.  The voter registration form requests some optional information, such as your telephone number and e-mail address.  The form also asks you to list any previous name or address your have used on a former voter registration so that these records can be updated. 

The voter identification number is your Indiana driver's license number as issued by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.  If you do not have an Indiana driver's license, then you must provide the last four digits of your social security number.

No, unless you are registering to vote for the first time in your county by returning a registration form through the mail.  If you register using the mail, you can include a photocopy of a current valid photo ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other document.  Whatever document you present must have your name and address printed on the ID.

Someone can help you fill out the form; however, if you cannot sign your name, you must make an identifying mark on the signature line.  If someone fills out the form for you, that person must write their name and address in the lower right hand corner of the form.

You can register to vote any time of the year.  However, to vote in a primary or general election, you must be registered at least twenty-nine (29) days before that election.  A mail-in voter registration application must be postmarked at least twenty-nine days in advance of that election.  Certain military and their family members can register until noon on election day.  Contact the Elkhart County Voter Registration Office at 574-535-6775 or 574-535-6774 for more information.

On a voter registration form, check address change and fill out all the information, including your previous address.  You can use a mail-in form or do this in person at any county voter registration office.  It is very important that you do this so your old registration can be canceled.

If you move in the last twenty-nine (29) days before the election, you may still vote.  In order to do so, please contact your county voter registration office.  If you moved more than 29 days before the election and did not change your registration before the deadline, you will not be eligible to vote at your former address unless you qualify to do so under special procedures.  Contact your county voter registration office for more information.

Once your voter registration application is received, your county voter registration office will process the application and determine your eligibility.   If you are eligible, the office will send you a voter registration card.  If you are not eligible, or if the application was incomplete, you will receive a notice requesting the missing information.  If you have not received a voter registration card of a notice within about 30 days, call your county voter registration office.

If you have not changed your address since you registered to vote, the only way your voter registration may be canceled is if your county voter registration office is notified that you have (1) been convicted of a crime and imprisoned, or (2) died.  You can no longer be "purged" simply because you have not voted recently.

You can request that your voter registration be canceled, if for any reason you no longer wish to be registered.

If you have changed your address since you last registered, then your registration at your old address may be canceled if your county voter registration office is notified that you have registered at a new address.  There are also special procedures that permit your county voter registration office to cancel your registration after two general elections have been held if your county voter registration office is notified that you no longer reside at your old address.

REMEMBER to file a new voter registration form with your county voter registration office whenever you move to a new address or change your name!

You can find your polling place on this website by clicking here.  You can also call Voter Registration at 574-535-6774 or 574-535-6775; or the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 574-535-6469.

You may vote by absentee ballot for a variety of reasons:  if you will be outside the county on election day; working in another poll on election day; confined due to illness, injury, or disability; or scheduled to work during the twelve (12) hours the poll is open.  You must request an absentee ballot from your county election board before the election in order to vote absentee.

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