Hoosiers can no longer use a court order or medical document to change the gender on their IDs at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. That change was announced in February.
And for transgender and nonbinary people who changed their IDs, or wanted to, a lot of questions came up after the rule change.
Are IDs with a gender marked as “X” still valid? Can people who changed their gender marker renew their IDs? Can they use their ID to vote?
With Indiana’s primary election coming up on May 5, we got answers from the BMV and the Marion County Election Board.
When I go to vote, will poll workers look for my gender when they verify my ID?
No. Poll workers use your ID to check only your identity, based on your name and photo. They don’t look at gender — or even your address.
The poll workers who run the voting centers — known as inspectors — are taught to respectfully interact with transgender, nonbinary or gender non-conforming voters. It also addresses deadnames explicitly: “Other than confirming the name on the person’s ID and the registration match, there’s no need to inquire about their ‘real name.’”
Related
Ready to vote? Here’s what ID you need.
To vote in Indiana, you must have a photo ID with your name and an expiration date on it.
I have an “X” listed as my gender on my driver’s license (or Indiana ID card). Can I renew it with the same gender?
Credentials with “X” will be valid until they expire. When you go to renew your ID, you’ll be required to choose either M or F for your gender marker in-person at a BMV branch — you won’t be able to do it online. Letters notifying affected individuals were sent last year.
If my ID shows a different gender than the sex I was assigned at birth, is that ID still counted as valid?
The ID will remain valid until the expiration date, and the credential is eligible for renewal as is, as long as it’s not expired. If anyone lets their ID expire, they have to go to the BMV in person and pay a $6 fee to renew it.
If you change your name or address, you’ll have to bring new documents. But if you’ve previously used a medical record or court order to change your gender, you can renew your ID or license using the typical process.
You have rights as a voter. Here’s what to do if they’re violated.
Every voter who steps foot into a polling place has rights. You have the right to:
- Vote privately and independently.
- Vote in an ADA-compliant vote center.
- Ask for assistance to vote if you are disabled or if you can’t read or write English. You must request help before you go into a voting booth.
- Vote if you have a criminal record.
Be on the lookout for voter intimidation, which is a violation of your civil rights and a federal crime. If someone at a polling place does these things, it’s voter intimidation:
- Threatens you, harasses you or interferes with your choice of candidates.
- Falsely presents themselves as an election official.
- Aggressively questions you about your citizenship, criminal record or other qualifications to vote.
If your rights have been violated, call the Marion County Election Board’s voter hotline. If you are disabled and the vote center you’re at isn’t ADA compliant, you can call Indiana Disability Rights.
Marion County Election Board
📞 317-327-5100
Indiana Disability Rights
📞 317-722-5555
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Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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