Recent news about efforts to undermine voters may have Hoosiers concerned. According to NPR:
"Mysterious phone calls in Florida and Virginia have told voters they can vote by phone — which they cannot do. And until this week, there were anonymous billboards in Ohio and Wisconsin warning that voter fraud is a felony — which it is. Thousands of lawyers and other volunteers are mobilizing to monitor the polls for signs of voter intimidation. Thousands of other volunteers will look for signs of voter fraud."
So what are the rules about "voter intimidation" in Indiana? Here's what you need to know:
Open carry at Indiana polling places
Indiana allows open carry of firearms with a license in most places. And while state law prohibits firearms at certain locations, such as schools, carry restrictions at Indiana polling places can be case-by-case.
"There is no law on guns in polling places in Indiana," said Valerie Warycha, deputy chief of staff and communications director for the Indiana Secretary of State, in an email. "But, if the polling location has a law in place that would apply. For example, if a polling place is at a school, there are state laws on guns at school so those laws would apply."
It is legal to carry a firearm into any polling place that is not one of the exempted locations.
'Electioneering' at Polling Places
At all polling locations in Indiana, it is illegal to engage in "electioneering," which simply means expressing support or opposition to any candidate or political party or public question.
This includes something as simple as wearing a t-shirt or button with a candidate logo. It also applies to what might be considered "voter intimidation," such as harassing voters headed into a polling place.
The rules apply to the polling place directly and to the "chute," which is 50 feet from any entrance to a polling place.
As NPR reports, there are federal regulations that prevent voter intimidation, as well:
"[The regulation] allows normal poll watching, like rallying supporters to vote, but not anything aimed at voter suppression, like posting armed guards at polling locations or questioning people in an intimidating way before they vote."
The same rules apply to all early voting centers and locations where voters can drop off absentee ballots.