Absentee Voting in the 2022 General Election

All registered voters who would like to vote by mail in Indiana for the 2022 General Election must complete an application by Thursday, October 27. You can apply online or download the application at the Secretary of State’s website at Indianavoters.in.gov. You must reapply for an absentee ballot for each election.

All absentee ballots must be received by the Election Board by 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8.

Do you want to know more about voting by mail? Click here to watch a video that explains the process.

Alternatively, you can drop off your mail-in ballot in person to the Election Board office at the City-County Building (W-144), 200 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204, and the Election Service Center, 3737 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46201, now through Election Day. You can also drop off your completed ballot at these Early Voting locations on the following dates:

Where to Drop off Your Absentee Ballot from October 12 to November 7:

Where to Drop off Your Absentee Ballot from October 29 to November 6:

Haven’t received your absentee ballot you requested more than two weeks ago?

You can request to have your ballot reissued or choose to vote in person by doing the following:

  • Vote in person at an Early Voting or Election Day Vote Center.
  • Complete an ABS-5 form (Statement Concerning Defective, Lost, Destroyed, or Spoiled Absentee Ballot), print, sign and return it to the Election Board at elections@indy.gov, using the subject line “ABS-5 Request for Ballot Reissue.”
  • You can hand deliver or mail your completed ABS-5 form to the Election Service Center at 3737 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46201.
  • You can fax your completed ABS-5 form to (317) 327-4815.
  • You can call the Election Board at (317) 327-5100 and press option 1, and option 1 again, to speak with Election Board staff to initiate the process of having your ballot reissued.

How Does Absentee Voting Work?

Registered voters, who are unable to vote in person at a Vote Center can apply for a vote-by-mail absentee ballot, swearing or affirming under penalties of perjury, they will be absent from the county on Election Day, are 65 years old, confined to a residence due to illness, or caring for someone who is, etc. The 12 acceptable reasons are listed on the application, which can be viewed and downloaded here. Once approved, the Marion County Election Board staff will mail absentee ballots. Upon receipt, voters should double-check the precinct code is correct and there are two sets of initials on the back of the ballot. After marking their selections, they can return the ballot by mail or hand deliver it to an MCEB office or an Early Voting or Election Day Vote Center.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Completing Your Absentee Application and Ballot

Listed below are instructions to help you apply for your mail-in ballot online or on paper, and to be sure your ballot is correctly completed, signed, and returned in time to be counted.

  1. Go to the Secretary of State’s website at Indianavoters.in.gov.
  2. Select the blue box in the middle, “Vote by Mail or Traveling Board” and click “Apply Online/Get Forms.”
  3. Select “Visit My Voter Portal” and type in your name, DOB, and county to log in.
  4. Verify your information is correct, and then continue to select “Vote By Mail”.
  5. Complete and submit your application by Thursday, October 27 at 11:59 p.m.

Tips for Completing the Paper Vote-by-Mail Absentee Application

Section 1. Information of Absentee Ballot Applicant

  • Provide full name, and date of birth, as they appear on your voter registration.
  • Provide address where you are currently registered to vote. To update your voter registration record, visit Indianavoters.in.gov or call the Marion County Board of Voter Registration at (317) 327-5040.
  • Provide a telephone number for the Marion County Election Board staff to call, if they have questions about your application.

Section 2. Absentee Ballot Mailing Address

  • Provide the address where the ballot should be mailed. Only provide a mailing address IF it is different from your voter registration address.

Section 3. Primary Election Only

  • Skip section 3.

Section 4. Reason to Vote by Absentee Mail

  • Check the box that best describes the reason you’re requesting a vote-by-mail absentee ballot.

Section 6. Information of Individual Assisting Absentee Ballot Applicant

  • If you require assistance completing this application, the person who assisted you must provide their information in Section 6.

Deadline for Election Board to Receive Application for a Vote-by-Mail Absentee Ballot

Thursday, October 27 by 11:59 p.m.

The Vote-by-Mail Absentee Application

  • Apply Online
  • Download the application in English or Spanish to sign and mail or hand deliver to the Marion County Election Board

Casting Your Vote by Mail

If your application is approved, you will receive an absentee ballot in the mail. You can preview your ballot and learn more about the candidates on the Voter Information Portal (VIP).

When you receive your ballot, check to make sure your precinct code is correct and has two sets of initials on the back. The precinct code can be found on the bottom-right corner of the ballot. Mark your ballot, sign the secrecy envelope and return your absentee ballot to the Election Board at the City-County Building (W-144) at 200 E Washington St. or Election Service Center at 3737 E Washington St. by 6:00 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 8). Please follow the directions enclosed with your ballot. Applications and ballots postmarked by the deadline, but physically received after the deadline, cannot be processed. 

Marked absentee ballots can only be returned by: 

  • The voter
  • The voter’s attorney-in-fact
  • An immediate member of the voter’s household
  • A United States postal worker or bonded courier
  • Additionally, the spouse, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece, whose relationship to the voter is the result of birth, marriage, or adoption, may hand deliver a voter’s absentee ballot to the Election Board. 

The person delivering the completed and signed ballot must complete the ABS-19 form (Affidavit of Individual Delivering a Voter’s Marked Absentee Ballot to a County).

Defective Ballots and Requesting a New Ballot

If your ballot doesn’t have two sets of initials, and/or doesn’t show your assigned voting precinct (Two letters and three numbers. Examples: CN004, WR023, LA046), your vote will not be counted. Check for errors before making your selections and return defective ballots as soon as possible. To do this, you can:

  1. Scratch out the barcode and signature line on the security envelope, then place the defective ballot into the security envelope, and write “SPOILED” on the outside of the envelope to help our staff identify these ballots on arrival. You can then drop the defective ballot in the mail or return it to an early voting site.
  2. Once the ballot is returned, the voter will then need to complete an ABS-5 form (Statement Concerning Defective, Lost, Destroyed, or Spoiled Absentee Ballot) to request a replacement ballot. The forms can be completed in-person at the City-County Building or Election Service Center. Voters can also download the form and return the completed form with their defective ballot in-person at the City-County Building or Election Service Center. 
  3. Once both the ABS-5 form and defective ballot are received, Election Board staff will mail a new ballot the same day.

Absentee Voting Frequently Asked Questions

For the 2022 General Election, there have been a lot of questions about absentee voting. Here are answers to the most common questions.