Indiana Senate Elections Committee Passes Bills on Early Voting and Ballot Counter Oaths
The Indiana Senate Elections Committee recently passed bills related to early voting and ballot counter oaths. Senate Bill 284, which aimed to reduce the early in-person voting period to 7 days, was passed with a 6-3 vote to reduce it to 14 days from the current 28 days. The bill sparked opposition from Lake County Election and Voter Registration Board director Michelle Fajman and Common Cause Indiana executive director Julia Vaughn, who argued that reducing the early voting period would limit voter turnout and impact disabled and elderly voters who rely on early voting.
Another bill, Senate Bill 186, authored by Sen. Dan Dernulc, would require presenting a copy of each oath signed by a ballot counter on provisional ballots to the election division within 30 days after the election. The bill, aimed at increasing transparency in the election process, was met with opposition from Fajman, who argued that the requirement would be a logistical challenge for county election officials.
Additionally, Senate Bill 287 focused on changing the school board election process to include primary and general elections and requiring school board members to select a political party. The bill was met with opposition from education organizations and advocates who argued that inserting politics into school board elections could detract from the focus on students.
As these bills move through the Senate, advocacy groups like Common Cause Indiana plan to continue pushing back against the proposed changes in the election and school board processes. The bills will be further discussed and potentially amended before a final vote.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
