Indiana BMV Extends Hours for Voter ID Needs
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices will open longer hours Monday and Tuesday so residents can obtain government-issued photo identification before the general election.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Elections
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State law requires voters to present a government-issued photo ID to obtain a ballot, and student ID cards from state universities no longer qualify. Indiana BMV offices will open 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, with license branches prioritizing identification transactions on those days.
Why it matters
Residents without a valid photo ID could be unable to cast a ballot in the general election, and the extended hours are intended to reduce that barrier for Hoosiers statewide. Voters with an expired license or state ID may still use it if it expired after Nov. 5, 2024.
Proof-of-residency documents must be dated within the last 60 days, and customers must present two of them along with proof of identity, legal status, and Social Security enrollment. Individuals completing a BMV transaction receive a paper interim credential valid for voter ID purposes, while the number of residents still lacking an accepted ID is not reported.
The players
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that issues driver's licenses and identification cards in Indiana and is extending branch hours ahead of the general election.
The details
Indiana BMV branches will prioritize new, amended, renewed or replacement identification cards, learner permits and driver's licenses on the extended days. Customers who complete a transaction will receive an interim credential printed on paper that is valid for voter ID purposes.
Timeline
Monday, Nov. 3, 2026: BMV offices open 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: BMV offices open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and polling places open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Nov. 5, 2024: Last general election; expired IDs remain valid for voting if they expired after this date.
Election Context
Indiana's requirement that voters present a government-issued photo ID to obtain a ballot continues to apply, and the state's decision to exclude student identification cards is unchanged. The extended BMV hours operate within that framework to help residents meet the existing standard before polls open Tuesday.
Voters without an accepted photo ID must obtain one before casting a ballot, and student IDs from state universities will not be accepted. Residents with an expired license or state ID may still vote if it expired after Nov. 5, 2024.
The takeaway
Residents who lack a valid photo ID should visit a BMV branch during the extended Monday or Tuesday hours, bringing identity, legal status, Social Security, and two dated proof-of-residency documents.
What happens next
Indiana polling places open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the general election, the date on which voters must present an accepted photo ID.
Further reading
Learn more about Elections coverage affecting Indiana voters ahead of the general election.
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Do you have a valid photo ID ready to vote this Tuesday?
