House Republican majority rejects GiaQuinta plan to extend Indiana voting hours

STATEHOUSE – Indiana House Republicans today rejected a proposal from State Rep. Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) that would have extended voting hours for Hoosiers and helped provide an answer to our state’s recent history of bad voter turnout numbers.

The House majority refused to accept an amendment offered by GiaQuinta that would have kept polls open in Indiana until 8 p.m. on election days. GiaQuinta attempted to place the plan into House Bill 1140.

“We need to be concerned about our state’s failures in the election process,” said GiaQuinta, a long-time reform advocate who serves on the House Elections & Apportionment Committee.

“In 2014, Indiana ranked last among all states and the District of Columbia in voter turnout at 30 percent,” he added. “I have to think that one reason for this is the fact that our state is one of only three in the country that chooses to close its polls at 6 p.m. It is incredibly hard for people to get away from work in time to vote when their polling places shut down so close to the end of the workday for many people across Indiana.”

GiaQuinta noted that the top ten states in voter turnout all keep polls open later than Indiana, as well as give voters multiple opportunities to cast a ballot. Of the 21 states that have polls open until 8 p.m., six rank in the top ten in turnout. “You cannot say you are committed to election reform, then turn around and block efforts that have been proven to increase voter turnout,” GiaQuinta said.

“These are simple solutions that can help people get out to vote, yet they are being stopped by the House majority. If the goal here is to keep Hoosiers from voting, they are succeeding beyond their wildest dreams. The only losers are the people of Indiana and a free and open election process.

“Rest assured that I will not stop my efforts this session to keep our election process open to all who are eligible to vote,” GiaQuinta concluded.