According to the Indiana Bar Association’s 2025 Indiana Civic Health Index, the state has moved to 33rd nationally in voter registration, from 40th place between 2022 and 2024. Voter turnout has improved slightly, with the national ranking moving from 50th to 41st. (Getty Images)
When I moved to Indiana from Washington state in 2021, one of the first things I noticed was the absence of state-produced voter election guides. Like clockwork back in the Northwest, before every election the county election supervisor sent me and every other voter a guide, which included information on candidates and ballot measures to peruse and discuss with family and friends.
The role of our local and state government in voter education has been limited. Seven years ago, the Indiana Disability Rights department released a video series that outlined voting specifics at that time. The Secretary of State has a limited landing page about voter basics, but many of the resources are from 2023. And there is a basic guide on the state’s website. But what’s missing is a concerted effort by the government to provide voter education and outreach. That’s where news organizations have stepped in…