Politics & Government

Voter turnout in Indiana has gone up in three consecutive presidential election years, including 2008’s record high.  Indiana’s Secretary of State says she’s hoping for another record this year, but some political watchers say that’s unlikely.

Secretary of State Connie Lawson says early voting has been strong so far, but she says early voting this year is a little off from the last presidential election.

“Compared to this time in the election process in 2008, we’re about 85 thousand ballots behind what we were in 2008,” Lawson said.

Lawmakers will attempt the first comprehensive reform of Indiana’s criminal code in 30 years next session after legislation prepared over the last three years by a legislative study committee was approved Tuesday.  But some state criminal justice organizations say the reform package will still require significant work before it can garner their support.

A huge portion of the criminal code overhaul will be put in one piece of legislation next session, something Indiana Public Defender Council executive director Larry Landis says may not work. 

More than 30,000 Hoosier students will cast votes for president and governor in their own elections in classrooms and schools statewide on November 6th. 

On Friday, October 26, the candidates for Indiana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction debated at the studios of Northeast Indiana Public Radio.

Republican incumbent, Dr. Tony Bennett, and his opponent, Democrat Glenda Ritz, spent an hour answering questions from StateImpact Indiana reporter, Kyle Stokes.

The full debate can be streamed or downloaded as a podcast by clicking here.

Embattled GOP Senate candidate Richard Mourdock says he apologizes if anyone misunderstood his comments during Tuesday’s debate in which he said pregnancy resulting from rape was something God intended to happen.  But he said Wednesday he won’t apologize for his beliefs.