INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A bill that would allow counties to use vote centers instead of neighborhood polling places appears to be dead for the year.

The GOP-controlled Senate and Democrat-controlled House cannot reach a compromise on the bill, the legislation's sponsor said.

"It's a stalemate," said Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake.

Both the House and Senate support the concept of vote centers, which supporters say would make elections cheaper and voting more convenient.

But the House approved a version of the bill that also allows voters to cast absentee ballots by mail without giving an excuse — a provision Senate Republicans oppose. Under current Indiana law, anyone voting absentee by mail must meet certain provisions, such as working through voting hours. Voters do not have to give an excuse if they cast absentee ballots in person before Election Day.

Landske said the Senate will not approve a bill that includes the vote-by-mail provision. But the bill's House sponsor, Democrat Matt Pierce of Bloomington, said the two concepts must go together.

Pierce said no-excuse absentee balloting by mail could be an important option if a county opted for vote centers, which are scattered polling sites where people can cast ballots regardless of their precinct.

A person without transportation, for example, may struggle to get to a vote center located far from their traditional polling site. Voting by mail could be a good alternative for that situation, Pierce said.

"I think vote centers don't work unless you have this safety valve," he said.

Secretary of State Todd Rokita pushed for the vote center bill and hopes lawmakers will reach a compromise on the measure before the session ends Friday. He does not support no-excuse absentee ballots because of concerns over fraud, and said the vote center concept should be able to stand on its own.

"One isn't dependent on the other," Rokita said.

Landske and Pierce both said they would try to work on the issue in future legislative sessions.

"We just have to continue this discussion," Pierce said.

Two Indiana counties — Tippecanoe and Wayne — used vote centers for their most recent elections as part of a state pilot program. County officials say the centers saved money and required fewer poll workers while getting good reviews from the public. Those counties, and possibly one other pilot county, will be able to continue their programs, Landske said.