INDIANAPOLIS — As COVID-19 cases surge, there is an increase in calls to allow mail-in voting across the country.
But come November, Hoosiers probably won't have a choice. Governor Eric Holcomb appeared to shoot down the idea on Wednesday.
“I’m high risk for a poor outcome if I get COVID,” said Indianapolis resident Elise Hertz.
Hertz, 50, said she has high blood pressure and asthma.
“I’m already at high risk for a stroke because of blood pressure issues. It really increases that risk if I would get COVID,” she said.
That’s why the Marion County mom is doing everything she can to avoid catching the virus, including staying away from the polls during the June primary.
Hertz voted, though. That's because the state allowed all registered voters to cast an absentee ballot in the June primary, without a special reason.
"It was really nice to have that,” Hertz said.
In all other Indiana elections, to get an absentee ballot, you've needed a reason. The state lists 11 such reasons on its website, but being worried about COVID-19 isn't one of them.
Now, just three months from the November election, the state hasn't said if it will make the same exception again.
“I think the fact that there hasn’t been an announcement is an announcement enough,” said Laura Wilson, a University of Indianapolis political science professor.
Wilson said if the state is planning to allow no-excuse mail-in voting, they're running out of time.
"If they were going to pursue the mail-in ballot, that decision needs to be made immediately in order to allow for print, production, distribution and, of course, actual voting and count time,” said Wilson.
The ACLU of Indiana and its partners sent letters to state election officials and Holcomb this week, urging the state to allow no-excuse absentee voting in November.
"We must ensure no voter has to choose between their right to vote and their health," the ACLU said in a statement.
Wednesday, the governor voiced opposition to blanket mail-in voting.
“Folks need to understand that it’s safe to vote,” said Holcomb. “I don’t know of a single case, I’ve asked this question ten times, ten different ways of ten different people, if they knew of one case where someone got COVID-19 while voting at one of our polling sites on Election Day.
“The answer has been ‘no’ to date,” he added.
Instead, the governor talked about voting early, reminding people to wear their masks to the polls.
“There’s a mask requirement and Indiana will have a safe and secure and healthy in-person election on November 3,” Holcomb said.
Hertz plans to vote early.
"And just hope there are not very many people there,” she said.
No matter what the state says about it being safe, Hertz said it comes down to a choice between her right to vote and her health.
"It's an unfair choice to ask people to make,” she said.