voter ID

A Senate committee rejected an effort Monday to allow anyone to vote absentee by mail in Indiana.

Hoosiers applying to vote by mail in Indiana would have to show some kind of voter ID under legislation approved by the House Wednesday.

Voting by mail in Indiana will get a little harder under legislation approved by a House committee Wednesday. But the bill originally went a lot further in restricting vote-by-mail.

Proposal 2 will appear on the ballot as nine bullet points. Some create something new, like a nine-day early voting period or a way to sign up to vote absentee in all future elections. Others strengthen existing policies, like the ability to vote without a photo I-D by signing an affidavit.

When Hoosiers go to vote, they are required to bring a government-issued photo ID with them. For groups such as youth without driver's licenses or people of color with no ID, this presents a challenge.

The group Voters Not Politicians released a video that shows a paid petition circulator telling a signer that the petition would send the issue to a popular vote. But if the petition campaign gets enough signatures, the Republican-backed measure could bypass voters and go straight to the Republican-controlled state Legislature.

Republican lawmakers want to require an extra check of a voter’s identification on absentee ballot applications. Supporters say it’s about election…