Indiana’s got a voting problem. News outlets can only do so much to fix it.

Here’s what journalists and government officials could do to get more voters to the polls

(This column is part of the Indianapolis Public Editor project, a pilot program designed to test whether the presence of a public editor who analyzes local coverage can elevate audience trust in journalism and promote media literacy.)

When I moved to Indiana from Washington state in 2021, one of the first things I noticed was the absence of state-produced voter election guides. Like clockwork back in the Northwest, before every election the county election supervisor sent me and every other voter a guide, which included information on candidates and ballot measures to peruse and discuss with family and friends.

The role of our local and state government in voter education has been limited. Seven years ago, the Indiana Disability Rights department released a video series that outlined voting specifics at that time. The Secretary of State has a limited landing page about voter basics, but many of the resources are from 2023. And there is a basic guide on the state’s website. But what’s missing is a concerted effort by the government to provide voter education and outreach. That’s where news organizations have stepped in.