Debate in Indiana over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to [email protected].


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Indiana in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Indiana

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Indiana.

  • Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb (R) (Fox 19 Now): Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb (R) said the state stay-at-home order is necessary to continue flattening the curve.

    "I want to thank Hoosiers in every corner of our state who have stayed socially-distanced and hunkered down. Lives are being saved, and we’re slowing the spread. Continuing the course at this time is essential to flattening the curve while we also prepare to safely reopen Indiana for business." - "Stay-At-Home order extended, modified for Indiana, Holcomb announces," April 20, 2020.

  • U.S. Representative Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN) (CBS News): Republican Congressman Trey Hollingsworth said that reopening the economy should be a priority. Hollingsworth said, "Both of these decisions will lead to harm for individuals, whether that's dramatic economic harm or or whether that's the loss of life. But it is always the American government's position to say, in the choice between the loss of our way of life as Americans and the loss of life of American lives, we have to always choose the latter." The next day, Hollingsworth added, "It's hyperbolic to say that the only choices before us are the two corner solutions: no economy or widespread casualties. We can use the best of biology and economics to enable as much of the economy to operate as possible while we work to minimize disease transmission." - "Republican Congressman Trey Hollingsworth says Americans should return to work despite coronavirus risk, calling it "the lesser of these two evils"," April 15, 2020.

  • Indiana Conservative Republicans - Grassroots Movement By Everyday Hoosiers (Fort Wayne's NBC): "Tell the governor stop the shutdown... America needs Indiana, open for business. Our goal is to lift up our voices so that the governor will lift his unconstitutional restrictions because his cure is worse than the disease." - "Hoosiers protest against Governor Holcomb’s stay-at-home order in Indianapolis," April 19, 2020.

  • Protest organizer Andy Lyons (WTHR): "I really feel like they’re unconstitutional to deprive people the rights to their private property and their business and their livelihoods. If I get sick then I am going bear the consequences of my getting sick. If anybody else gets sick they bear the consequences of their free choice without government coercion to do so." - "Hoosiers against stay-at-home order protest outside governor's residence," April 17, 2020.


Debate over prisons and inmates in Indiana

See also: Debate over prisons and inmates during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders regarding prisons and inmates in Indiana.

  • Indiana Department of Corrections spokesperson Dave Bursten (Indy Star): Bursten said precautions were being taken in prisons to minimize the spread of the virus.

    "We are all working and committed to doing all that we can to minimize the effect of this virus in our facilities. We have cleaning operations going on daily. We have vendors that help with the cleaning, plus we have crews that do the cleaning. So it's an ongoing effort. It's not just to protect the offenders, but it's also to protect our staff." - "Coronavirus spread in Indiana prisons threatens hundreds of elderly inmates," April 26, 2020.

  • ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk (The Indiana Lawyer): The ACLU of Indiana filed a petition on March 30 with the Indiana Supreme Court seeking the release of Indiana inmates due to coronavirus concerns. The petition was denied on April 9, 2020. ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk said prisons are "ripe for a widespread outbreak."

    "Ensuring the safety of at-risk individuals in Indiana’s jails and prisons is not only a humanitarian necessity, it is a constitutional requirement. The only way of hoping to stop the deadly spread of COVID-19 is to take these additional steps in the criminal legal system. This will benefit not just people who are incarcerated, but those who work in jails and prisons, and go back and forth to their families and communities every day." - "ACLU of Indiana petitions to release inmates at risk for coronavirus," March 31, 2020.

  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas R. Mahoney (NWI Times): An attorney for Patricia Carrington, who was awaiting trial for a federal kidnapping charge, argued that pre-trial incarceration is a cruel and unusual punishment amid the coronavirus pandemic. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas R. Mahoney argued in a U.S. District Court memorandum that Carrington is unlikely to get better medical care than she is now receiving in the county jail and that she is still a threat to the witness she is accused of kidnapping. - "Courts debate whether coronavirus makes local jails too dangerous for inmates," April 27, 2020.


Debate over school closures in Indiana

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Indiana.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Indiana

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Indiana.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over election policy in Indiana

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Indiana.

Based on recommendations from Governor Eric Holcomb (R), Secretary of State Connie Lawson (R), and Democratic and Republican leaders, the Indiana Election Commission adopted changes for the state's June 2 primary election. The changes included allowing Indiana residents to vote using absentee mail-in ballots regardless of excuse.[1] The full order is available here.

  • John Zody, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party (NWI Times): "This agreement will lead to a historic expansion of Hoosiers' voting rights. It will bring down barriers to the ballot box and throw open the door to freer, fairer elections in the Hoosier State." - "Indiana moves primary elections to June 2 due to coronavirus," March 20, 2020.

  • Secretary of State Connie Lawson (R) (NWI Times): "As Indiana's chief election officer, it is my top priority to protect our elections, but, above all else, it is my duty to protect the health and safety of Hoosiers, I believe the bipartisan recommendations we have asked the Indiana Election Commission to take will allow us to provide all Hoosiers the opportunity to vote." - "Indiana moves primary elections to June 2 due to coronavirus," March 20, 2020.

  • Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb (R) (NWI Times): "The right of citizens to elect their leaders in a free and open election is one of the cornerstones of America. In order to balance that right with the safety of county employees, poll workers and voters, delaying Indiana's primary election is the right move as we continue to do all we can to protect Hoosiers' health." - "Indiana moves primary elections to June 2 due to coronavirus," March 20, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in Indiana

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Indiana)

Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Indiana.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ News Bug, "Indiana Election Commission adopts additional procedures for June 2 Primary Election," accessed April 29, 2020
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