Ron WilkinsLafayette Journal & Courier
LAFAYETTE, Ind. ― Early voting for the 2024 election begins Oct. 8 in Indiana. Here's what you need to know in order to participate in the election.
If you are not registered in Tippecanoe County ― or your home Indiana county ― you have until Oct. 7 to register. For online simplicity, one may go to https://indianavoters.in.gov/ to register to vote. You cannot be registered in two counties or two states, so choose where you plan to cast your ballot based on where you live.
One may also register to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or at the county's election office, which is 20 N. Third St. in Lafayette.
What do you need to register to vote?
To register, one must be a U.S. citizen and must have a valid Indiana driver's license or Indiana identification card, according to indianavoters.in.gov. Anyone who needs a license or ID card can get one at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, where they also will have an opportunity to register to vote.
Teenagers must be 18 on or before Nov. 5 to register to vote in the general election.
Those wanting to vote must have been a resident of the county and/or precinct for at least 30 days before Nov. 5 and must not be imprisoned after being convicted of a crime, according to indianavoters.in.gov.
How to check your voter registration status and ask for an absentee ballot
Indiana has made it simple to check one's voter registration status, as well as to find forms for voting by absentee ballots by going to https://indianavoters.in.gov .
Absentee ballots must be requested by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 24. Absentee ballots must be returned before 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, to be counted. The ballots may be mailed in or dropped off in person at the County Building. They also may be dropped off Nov. 5 at any polling site.
It is encouraged that those casting mail-in absentee ballots mail their votes in as quickly as possible, so the ballots arrive in time to be counted.
Where to vote early
Early in-person voting begins Oct. 8. Anyone casting a ballot in person either in early voting or Election Day will need a valid government-issued identification, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport or military ID.
Early in-person voting ends at noon Nov. 4.
People may vote early and in person at the Tippecanoe County Building, 20 N. Third St., Lafayette, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays beginning Oct. 8 and through Nov. 1. They also may vote there between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, and Nov. 2.
They also may vote early between noon and 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at the First United Methodist Church, 1700 Mitch Daniels Blvd., West Lafayette.
On Saturday, Oct. 22, people may vote early between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at:
∎ West Point Fire Station, 4949 Indiana 25 S., West Point.
∎ Otterbein United Methodist Church, 405 E. Oxford St., Otterbein.
∎Clarks Hill Christian Church, 9510 Pearl St., Clarks Hill
Voters may cast early ballots between noon and 6 p.m. Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 2 at:
∎ Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette.
∎ Wea Ridge Baptist Chruch, 1051 E. 430 S., Lafayette.
∎ Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. 50 S., Lafayette.
∎ John R. Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road, West Lafayette.
In-person voting on Election Day
Tippecanoe County no longer uses precinct voting sites for Election Day voting. Instead, any registered voter in the county may cast a ballot at any of the 15 vote centers in the county that will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 5.
These sites are:
∎ Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette.
∎ Lafayette Community Church of the Nazarene, 3801 Union St., Lafayette.
∎ Evangelical Covenant Church, 3600 S. Ninth St., Lafayette.
∎ Tippecanoe County Historical Association, 522 Columbia St., Lafayette.
∎ Wea Ridge Baptist Church, 1051 E. 430 S. Lafayette.
∎ Eastside Assembly of God, 6121 E. 50 S., Lafayette.
∎ Northend Community Center, 2000 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette.
∎ Faith West Community Center, 1920 Northwestern Ave., West Lafayette.
∎ Margerum City Hall of West Lafayette, 222 N. Chauncey Ave., West Lafayette.
∎ Connection Point Church, 2541 Cumberland Ave., West Lafayette.
∎ John R. Dennis Wellness Center, 1101 Kalberer Road, West Lafayette.
∎ Dayton Gathering Point Church, 7201 Wesleyan Drive, Dayton.
∎ Shadeland Town Hall, 2485 Indiana 25 W., Lafayette.
∎ Battle Ground Fire Station, 112 North St., Battle Ground.
∎ Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Department, Station No. 2, 448 W. 650 N., West Lafayette.
Election returns
Votes will be tallied after the polls close and the ballot machines are returned to the County Building. The Journal & Courier will report live about the local returns at jconline.com, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-date information.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
