Adopted May 1974

Members of the League of Women Voters of Indiana agree that Indiana should require registration to verify the qualifications and identification of voters, to prevent fraud, and to develop and maintain accurate records. Citizens, all levels of government, and the political parties should be responsible for first initiating voter registration, with the primary responsibility residing in the citizen and local government. Local and state government and the political parties should then have primary responsibility for implementing the registration procedures. But all citizens, the federal government, and nonpolitical partisan groups should also be allowed to participate in voter registration.

The League of Women Voters supports the following measures for voter registration:

• Minimal residency requirements, extended hours, and increased numbers of days for registration; use of a variety of permanent public sites such as public libraries and post offices.

• Additional temporary registration sites preceding elections.

• Training for all deputy registrars to familiarize themselves with registration procedures and with Indiana election law.

• Continued but not exclusive participation of the political parties in the registration process.

• Continued use of purging for maintenance of accurate voter records.

• Dates and hours for the registration period should be publicized throughout the state during the period. Hours for registration should be extended. Registration locations should be easily accessible and well publicized. Political parties should continue to be important participants in the registration process. However, the use of deputy registrars from other groups should be encouraged.

• Members of the League agree that the criteria for voter registration should be U.S. citizenship, 18 years of age minimum, and a minimum residency in the precinct of 30 days.