Today’s update discusses:

• state moving to Stage Three
• absentee voting
• more testing sites to open
• hotline for low-income tenants facing eviction

ECONOMY

• Governor Holcomb announced this week that except for Marion, Cass, and Lake counties, Indiana will move into Stage Three of the Governor’s five-stage reopening plan starting Friday. (Marion, Cass, and Lake counties are expected to move to Stage Three on June 1.) Governor Holcomb expressed his confidence in this move because residents of the state have been limiting contact, wearing masks, and maintaining appropriate hygiene. Moving into Stage Three allows places like gyms, community pools, and campgrounds to reopen with restrictions; movie theaters to open at 50% capacity; and retail stores, including malls, to open at 75% capacity.

VOTING

• Today is the last day for Indiana residents to return an absentee voting ballot. As officials have recognized the threat of COVID-19, in-person voting has been limited, thus allowing voters to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. In fact, voting absentee has been encouraged in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus.

RESOURCES

• CVS is opening 21 testing sites in the State of Indiana, including in Indianapolis, Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Granger, and Terre Haute. CVS is determining the placement of these sites (including more sites to come) by the need of the communities in an effort to assist those who lack ability to prepare for and recover from the pandemic. Beginning tomorrow, residents who qualify for testing may register and schedule an appointment.
• Governor Holcomb previously signed a statewide order prohibiting evictions during the pandemic, and he extended that order this week. However, some landlords in Indianapolis have filed eviction lawsuits, prompting attorneys at Indiana Legal Services to start a new hotline for low-income tenants facing eviction. While the hotline is limited to residents of Marion County, legal services will assist Indiana residents outside of Marion County through their general intake line. The hotline will be live the third Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.