By Joe Ulery
Indiana News Service
INDIANA — An Indiana watchdog group said it is considering legal action in response to new state voting laws the group believes disenfranchise voters.
Julia Vaughn, executive director of Common Cause Indiana, said there are significant concerns about the impact of new legislation. One such law started as House Bill 1334, which passed at the Statehouse last year.
Vaughn argued the restrictions it outlines for people who want to vote by absentee ballot create considerable barriers, especially for already marginalized communities.
“We’re gathering evidence,” Vaughn explained. “This was the new law that requires people who are registering to vote by mail to include their voter ID number. The problem is, your voter ID number could be one of three different numbers.”
According to the Civic Health Index, Indiana ranked 50th for voter turnout in 2022. Common Cause Indiana is advocating for expanded early voting options and the implementation of automatic voter registration. Supporters of stricter voting laws said they are necessary to protect the integrity of elections.
Despite the challenges, Vaughn emphasized she is optimistic and encouraged people to stay engaged and informed about their voting rights. She noted preliminary research showed Hoosiers are running into a wall created by some of the new requirements.
“We’ve done some public records requests in Marion County and in Hamilton County and have found hundreds of people had their applications rejected,” Vaughn reported.
Vaughn urges lawmakers to prioritize reforms, emphasizing a healthy democracy relies on the active participation of every voter. She maintained voting is a fundamental right which must be safeguarded.
