Absentees can vote thanks to new House bill

INDIANAPOLIS – Legislation that would allow Indiana voters to cast absentee ballots by mail without having an excuse, such as being out of town on Election Day, is now before the state Senate.

The bill cleared the Democrat-led House on a mostly party-line vote on Wednesday. But it could face tough opposition in the Republican-ruled Senate. Republicans have opposed previous attempts to expand mail-in absentee ballots.

Current Indiana law says anyone voting absentee-by-mail must meet certain provisions, such as being out of the county on Election Day or working through voting hours. Voters do not have to give an excuse if they cast absentee ballots in person.