Early voting is officially underway in Indiana. Hoosiers can vote early in-person at their county clerk’s office and in some counties at additional locations, ahead of the November 8^th General Election.

Absentee ballots are also available by mail from county election offices. A voter can obtain an application to vote absentee by mail on the web at IndianaVoters.com.

You’ll need to apply for an absentee ballot by mailing the application to your county clerk’s office by Oct. 31^st.

Anyone can vote early in-person, but there are some requirements to meet if you want to vote early by mail. You also must meet at least one of these requirements:

You have a specific, reasonable expectation that you will be absent from the county on Election Day during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open (6 a.m. until 6 p.m.).

• You have a disability.
• You are at least 65years of age.
• You will have official election duties outside of your voting precinct.
• You are scheduled to work at your regular place of employment during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
• You will be confined due to illness or injury or you will be caring for an individual confined due to illness or injury during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
• You are prevented from voting because of a religious discipline or religious holiday during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.
• You are a member of the military or a public safety officer.
• You are a “serious sex offender” as defined in Indiana Code 35-42-4-14(a).
• You are prevented from voting due to the unavailability of transportation to the polls.

Absentee voting by mail is a three-step process. A voter must submit an application to vote absentee; the voter needs to receive and mark an absentee ballot; then the voter must return their completed absentee ballot by mail.

You have the right to vote in Indiana if:

• You are a U.S. citizen;AND
• You are a resident of Indiana; AND
• You will be at least 18 by November 8^th; AND
• You are not currently in prison after being convicted of a crime; AND
• You have lived in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days before the election; AND
• You are registered to vote

Voters with questions are also encouraged to review the Voter’s Bill of Rights. This publication explains your rights regarding:

Please share the Voter’s Bill of Rights with your viewers and readers. (Publication attached)

Anyone with questions about early voting can call the Hoosier Voter Hotline at 866-IN-1-VOTE.

HNI Corp., the parent company of Paoli Inc., announced Friday morning it would begin phasing out its manufacturing operations at the Orleans factory.

Approximately 350 employees will be affected by the plant closure.

Gary Carlson, vice president of community relations for HNI Corp. said in a press release, that the plan is to begin phasing out the manufacturing operations in January. Some departments may leave the facility early in the year while others won’t be phased out until next fall.

In a press release, Stan Askren, HNI Corp. chairman, president and CEO, said, “Sales for the quarter did not develop as expected. Economic uncertainty is weighing on our markets making them more dynamic and difficult to predict than recent periods. Our operational performance continues to deliver strong results in a lower sales environment. Our businesses continue to compete well and we remain confident in our strategies as we respond to the changing environment. We maintain a positive long-term outlook.”

Askren noted the company will likely move the Orleans manufacturing processes to HNI companies in Iowa, North Carolina and New York.

Some portions of the business, such as administration and sales and marketing, will stay in southern Indiana but not in Paoli.

HNI, forecasted a third quarter sales decline of 4 to 7 percent, compared to being up 3 percent as previously estimated.