Vote-By-Mail Advocates Take Case To Federal Appeals Court

A group of Indiana residents trying to force the state to allow all Hoosier voters to cast mail-in ballots this year have their day in a federal appeals court Wednesday.

The suit will be heard in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

A group of voters filed suit earlier this year in a bid to force Indiana officials to expand vote-by-mail to anyone who wanted it for the 2020 general election, just like the state did for the primary election, amid COVID-19.

READ MORE: Can I Vote By Mail? Here's What You Need To Know For Indiana's Elections

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The vote-by-mail advocates said without expanded mail-in options this fall, some Hoosiers will have to choose between risking their health by voting in person or not voting at all.

A federal district court judge already sided against those advocates, ruling that while the Constitution guarantees the right to vote, it does not guarantee the right to vote by mail.

Indiana Republican state officials insist people will have plenty of safe options to vote in-person, including early voting, which begins Oct. 6.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.