Published: April 01, 2008 10:59 pm            

TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Potential voters beware: Deadline near

Monday last day for primary registration

TERRE HAUTE — As elections go in Indiana, May 6 has far more appeal to potential voters than primaries of the past. The hotly contested Democratic presidential race is the driving force, presenting Hoosiers with the opportunity, for the first time in recent memory, to have an impact on a significant national primary.

The traditional lateness of Indiana’s primary election usually renders us irrelevant in any party’s bid for the White House. With Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton still battling for their party’s nomination, this year is quite different. Voter registrations are up in Vigo County, and turnout is destined to be uncharacteristically high.

Those who still need to register, or alter their registrations to reflect address changes, must be aware of a pending deadline. Indiana law requires all voter registrations to be completed a full month before election day. This year, the deadline is at 4 p.m. on Monday, April 7.

In Vigo County, voters can register in a temporary voter registration office at the northeast corner of Sixth and Wabash, directly across from First Financial Plaza in downtown Terre Haute. The permanent office on the first floor of the county courthouse remains closed during the building’s extensive renovations.

In most other counties in west-central Indiana, voters can register in the office of their county clerk.

We’ve railed in this space for years about the state’s archaic registration law. Having to register a month before election day is certainly not voter friendly.

What’s more, with modern technology, it’s unnecessary.

To make matters worse, the state recently adopted a law that requires voters to show a government-approved photo ID in order to vote.

The purported reason for the law? Prevention of voter fraud, although fraud of the type a photo ID would prevent has never been shown to be a problem in Indiana. The main effect of the requirement is to serve as yet another obstacle to voters.

We hope voters, in spite of the state’s clunky system, are not deterred from registering or voting. There are certainly many reasons to make the effort this year. In addition to the Democratic presidential race, there are contested local races in both party primaries. And Democrats should remember that they will be nominating a candidate for governor to oppose incumbent Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels in the November general election.

If you’re an eligible voter who is not registered or needs to change an address on your registration, please move quickly. Time is running short.

        

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