Absentee vote to start Wednesday

For those not able to make it to the polls on Nov. 8 or just hoping to get this election cycle behind them, absentee voting is available starting Wednesday.

With today as the deadline to register to vote, absentee voting will open at 9 a.m. Wednesday on the second floor of the Putnam County Courthouse.

Early voting at the courthouse will continue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Early voting will also be available Saturday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Early voting will end at noon on Monday, Nov. 7.

Voters must present an Indiana driver’s license, Indiana identification card, military ID or passport before voting.

Voters can also request a mail-in absentee ballot by completing and submitting an application by Oct. 31. Those who don’t want to vote by mail can request a traveling board come to their residence and assist them.

All registered voters in Indiana are eligible to vote absentee-in-person at the courthouse beginning Wednesday.

In order to vote absentee-by-mail, one of the following must apply:

• The voter has a specific, reasonable expectation to be absent from the county on Election Day during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open (6 a.m.-6 p.m.)

• The voter has a disability.

• The voter is at least 65 years of age.

• The voter will have official election duties outside of his or her voting precinct.

• The voter is scheduled to work at a regular place of employment during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.

• The voter will be confined due to illness or injury or will be caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.

• The voter is prevented from voting because of a religious discipline or religious holiday during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.

• The voter is a participant in the state’s address confidentiality program.

• The voter is a member of the military or a public safety officer.

• The voter is a “serious sex offender” as defined in Indiana Code 35-42-4-14(a).

• The voter is prevented from voting due to the unavailability of transportation to the polls.

In order to vote absentee-by-traveling board, one of the following must apply:

• The voter expects to be confined, due to illness or injury, or the voter expects to be caring for a confined person at a private residence, on Election Day.

• The voter has disabilities and believes his polling place is not accessible to him.

• The voter is physically unable to complete the ballot and sign the affidavit on their own.

In the case of a traveling board, the ballot will be delivered by a bipartisan absentee voter board who will be able to assist with the ballot.

Voters voting by traveling board or by mail are not required to show photo ID.

In the case of all forms of early or Election Day voting, more information is available by contacting the Putnam County Voter Registration Office at 655-1538 or voterregistration.putnam@airhop.com.