How to register to vote for 2026 primary election
https://dailyjournal.net/2026/03/09/how-to-register-to-vote-for-2026-primary-election/
To cast a ballot in the upcoming primary election, Hoosiers need to register by April 6.
Hoosiers can register to vote in-person by 4:30 p.m. at the voter registration office in the Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin. They can also print out, complete and mail a voter registration form to the county’s voter registration office. Postmarks the day of do not count.
Additionally, voters can register online at indianavoters.in.gov by 11:59 p.m., or register in person at any license branch. Those who register at license branches should confirm with Johnson County Voter Registration that their information was sent over properly.
People must have an Indiana driver’s license or state identification card, be a United States citizen, have lived in their precinct for at least 30 days before the next general election, and be at least 18 years old by the next general election.
“If we have a 17-year-old that is currently 17 and say they’re going to turn 18 [on] Nov. 1, they would be eligible to vote this election and get registered,” said Trena McLaughlin, county clerk. “If they were 17 and they were going to turn 18 [on] Dec. 1, they wouldn’t be eligible for this year’s election.”
People also cannot currently be in prison after being convicted of a crime, she added.
First-time Indiana voters may also need to provide a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document to prove their address, according to the Indiana County Voter Registration Application.
McLaughlen said there are 119,082 people registered to vote in Johnson County for the primary election, as of Feb. 25. This is only a slight change from the last primary election in 2024, which had 119,118 registered voters, and a larger difference from the last general election which had 123,364 registered voters.
“The primaries are pretty close, but we had our voter list maintenance clean-up, so that took out people [who have moved, people who didn’t vote in the last two federal elections. Then they’re moved to a status of inactive, and then they’re eventually cancelled,” McLaughlin said.
Voters can check the status of their registration online at indianavoters.in.gov or by calling Johnson County’s voter registration office at 317-346-4466. McLaughlin encouraged people to check that their registration is current and call the voter registration office before the deadline if they haven’t voted in a long time or recently moved to make sure they will be able to vote in the upcoming election.
“It’s very important that everyone votes in all the elections,” McLaughlin said. “[That’s] not always the case, but we hope for a good turnout.”
In this year’s primary election, voters will choose candidates for county, state and local races. The U.S. House of Representatives District 6 race is contested on the Republican and the Democrat ballot. Indiana Senate District 41 and Indiana House Districts 57 and 60 are contested for Republicans, while Indiana House District 58 is contested for both parties’ ballots.
Locally, Districts 2 and 3 with the Johnson County Council are contested for Republicans. There is also one seat on the ballot for the Bargersville Town Council, two seats on the ballot for the Edinburgh Town Council, and three seats on the ballot for the Prince’s Lakes Town Council that are contested on Republican ballots.
Additionally, the Franklin Union Needham Township Trustee race is contested for Republicans, alongside the FUN Township Board seat for Union Township.
HOW TO REGISTER
Here’s how to register to vote in the primary election. Those who were already registered are encouraged to check their registrations.
Online: You can register and check your registration at indianavoters.in.gov.
In-person: Visit the county voter registration office at the Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin, or any license branch.
Mail: Address envelopes, including the registration form, available at the courthouse or on indianavoters.in.gov, and copies of any necessary documentation, to Johnson County Voter Registration Office, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin, IN 461431.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. April 6 for online applications. Paper applications must be received by voter registration by 4:30 p.m. April 6.