Online ballot request form posted for Indiana primary

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana voters can now submit online their requests for a mail-in ballot for the state's June 2 primary election.

The request form was posted online Tuesday on the state's voter registration site - www.IndianaVoters.com. The electronic form submits the ballot request to election officials, rather than voters having to mail the ballot application form to their county election office.

Election officials are promoting mail-in voting as a way to protect the safety of voters and polling site workers by reducing the amount of in-person voting. The state election commission voted last month to delay the primary from its original May 5 date and allow any voter to cast a mail-in ballot without having to meet one of the excuses required under state law.

To access the online ballot request form, voters must log in to their registration record on the website, select 'œAbsentee Voting'ť on the screen's left side and click on 'œVote By Mail.'ť

State election officials plan to have early voting sites open starting May 26 in each county. In-person voting locations are planned for June 2, although counties could have fewer sites open than usual

Indiana has no challenged races for statewide elected offices in this year's primary although multiple candidates are seeking nominations for the congressional seats being given up by Democratic Rep. Pete Visclosky and Republican Rep. Susan Brooks. State legislative seats and county offices are also on the primary ballot.