Update 11/5/19, 5:45 a.m.
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches are ready to do business again today after an error crashed the system Monday.
That means Hoosiers who need state identification cards to vote will be able to get them.
The agency announced late afternoon Monday a problem with a private vendor left it unable to process any transactions. In a statement, BMV Commissioner Peter Lacy apologizes for the issue and promises to continue working to see it doesn’t happen in the future.
Most BMV branches around the state are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, the same time as poll hours. Indiana law requires Hoosiers show ID to vote.
Original Story
Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches across the state have been unable to process any transactions since late afternoon Monday.
That includes state identification cards that Hoosiers need to vote.
The BMV says a technical error from a private vendor is to blame. It has not provided an estimate for when the system will be back up.
Agency employees took customer information at branches statewide Monday to contact them when service resumes. The BMV has extended hours Tuesday – previously planned – from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
But if the system remains down, registered voters who don’t have the necessary IDs will be out of luck at the polls.
Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
