Lauri Shillings – Libertarian
Candidate for Secretary of State
Question One: If elected Secretary of State, what specific actions will you take to ensure that eligible voters with intellectual and developmental Disabilities have the supports and accommodations necessary to participate fully in elections?
Response: I want to ensure every eligible citizen has the right and ability to vote. I had a great conversation with Thomas Quiter, a tremendous advocate for those with mobility issues, about this very topic earlier this year. It’s important to ensure everyone can exercise their right to vote with dignity and respect. This is an important topic to me and I would work with organizations like yours and others to ensure we improve these offerings. Additionally, one of the things I talk about often is updating the SoS website to have more complete and transparent information so voters can make informed decisions. As Creative Director for the University of Indianapolis I am well versed in the accessibility requirements for websites. I would ensure the SoS website also meets those needs and requirements.
Question 2: As Secretary of State, what strategies would you use to ensure that eligible voters with physical disabilities and those with blind or low vision are able to participate fully in elections?
Response: Every polling place should have its accessible voting machine on, tested, and staffed by someone trained to use it, not just present in the room. That means real audio ballot access for blind and low-vision voters, not a checkbox. I’d work to formalize the state’s partnership with Indiana Disability Rights and the U.S. Attorney’s Office through the Access the Vote program so every county, not just a subset, gets surveyed and given specific fixes before Election Day. I’d also like to Introduce curbside voting for those that need this accommodation, so it’s available and clearly advertised statewide. I would like to ensure braille and large-print materials are actually stocked and offered, not just theoretically available. And I’d update the SoS website so voters can find this information without digging with clear, plain-language explanations of what to expect and how to request accommodations in advance.
Question 3: If elected, how would your office respond if a voter with a disability reports that they were unable to vote because of an accessibility barrier?
Response: First, I’d listen. The voter is telling us something broke down in real time, and that matters more than anything else in that moment. Second, my office would work immediately with the local clerk and election team to find a same-day fix, whether that’s an alternate accessible machine, curbside voting, or another accommodation, so that voters aren’t turned away. Third, every incident gets logged, not buried. After the election, we review whether it was a one-time failure or a pattern, and we make the policy or training change needed so it doesn’t happen again at that location or anywhere else. Accountability doesn’t end when the polls close.
Question 4: Do you support the use of mail-in ballots and early voting as an accommodation for those with disabilities? Why or why not?
Response: Yes, without hesitation. Mail-in ballots and early voting increase participation for everyone, and for voters managing chronic illness, mobility limitations, sensory issues, or unpredictable symptoms, they can be the difference between voting or not voting at all. I support expanding both, not as a workaround for people with disabilities but as a standard option every eligible Hoosier should have. Nobody should have to choose between their health and their vote.