IndianaHB 1680First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)House

Various elections matters.

Sponsored By: Timothy Wesco (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Modifies the definition of "auxiliary party organization". Specifies that the definition of "contribution" includes certain donations of property through a payment platform that acts as a conduit. Requires each county to submit to the secretary of state (secretary) information concerning the county's information technology provider. Repeals a provision that allows the Indiana election commission (commission) to issue advisory opinions. Provides that an advisory opinion issued by the commission before July 1, 2025, is void. Permits a pollbook holder, challenger, or watcher to enter, leave, and reenter multiple polling places at any time on election day. Requires the county voter registration official to send a notice requesting proof of citizenship to an individual who uses an identification number from a temporary credential as part of the individual's voter registration application. Provides that an applicant may not list on the voter registration form a post office box or a commercially available mailing box as the residence address of the applicant. Prohibits, with some exceptions, an individual from printing or setting forth information on any part of a voter registration form that will be mailed to another individual. Requires a person who receives a completed petition for nomination of a candidate and has reason to believe that the petition is materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent to deliver the petition to a county election board. Requires the county election board to take certain actions to determine if a violation of election law has occurred. Provides that certain paid political advertising or campaign material does not falsely represent that the candidate is or has been an officeholder. Requires the reporting of certain information if a contribution is made through a payment platform that acts as a conduit. Allows a voter who resides in any precinct to challenge a voter or person who offers to vote at a primary election. Provides that an absentee ballot affidavit that does not contain an accurate date of signature is insufficient and must be rejected. Permits the secretary to conduct a procedure audit of a primary or general election after the election occurs. Requires the secretary to issue orders concerning procedure audits. Specifies the deadlines by which procedure audits must be completed. Makes it a Class A misdemeanor to circulate or publish material in an election without printing a certain statement on the envelope of an absentee ballot application that a person sends to an individual.

elections and apportionmentthe senateelections

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

12 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 8 costs, 1 mixed.

Absentee voters need accurate signature dates

Beginning July 1, 2025, an absentee ballot affidavit must show the accurate date it was signed. Officials must reject the ballot if the affidavit lacks an accurate signature date.

Citizenship proof required for some registrants

Applicants who register using an ID number from specified temporary credentials must provide proof of citizenship after county notice. They have 30 days after receiving the notice to provide proof. County officials must reject the registration if proof is not provided on time.

Primary voters face broader challenge rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, a voter from any precinct can challenge someone offering to vote in an Indiana primary. Challenged voters must be registered and make the required affirmation or affidavit. Those who voted in the last general election must have supported a majority of that party’s regular nominees. They must also intend to support that party’s nominees in the next general election. Those who did not vote last time must intend to support a majority of its nominees next time.

Election observers can visit multiple polls

Appointed pollbook holders, challengers, and watchers can enter, leave, and return to multiple polling places at any time on election day. Existing legal restrictions on their activities still apply.

Higher spending threshold for party auxiliaries

The annual spending threshold for auxiliary party organization status rises from $5,000 to $10,000. A qualifying party-affiliated group must stay below $10,000 in spending in at least one of the last two years. The separate condition barring contributions over $1,000 to another committee or candidate remains.

Simple candidate ads gain legal protection

Paid campaign material listing only a candidate’s name and office sought is not treated as falsely claiming current or past officeholding. The material must not include the words “elect,” “vote,” or “for.”

Stricter rules for voter registration forms

Voter registration applicants cannot use a post office box or commercial mailing box as their residence address. Such forms are incomplete. Unless Indiana election law specifically allows it, people cannot add information to registration forms they will mail to another person. County registration offices must also treat those forms as incomplete.

Campaigns must separately report platform fees

Qualifying political donations through payment platforms acting as intermediaries count as campaign contributions. Candidates and covered campaign, party, political action, and legislative caucus committees must report the full donation before fees. They must report platform fees separately as campaign spending.

Election commission ends advisory opinion guidance

The Indiana Election Commission can no longer issue advisory opinions. Opinions it issued before July 1, 2025, are void. The commission keeps its authority to hold administrative hearings.

Missing election disclosures bring criminal penalties

Beginning July 1, 2025, publishing or circulating election material without a legally required statement is a Class A misdemeanor. This applies to individuals, organizations, and committees. The law expands the offense to cover an additional election-material statement requirement.

Suspected false petitions require prompt reporting

Recipients of completed candidate nomination petitions must report them when they have reason to believe they are materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent. Within 10 days after receipt, they must deliver the petition and a sworn or affirmed explanation to the county election board. The board determines whether an election-law violation occurred.

Broader election audits with special deadline

Indiana’s secretary of state can audit election procedures after a primary or general election without first requiring an investigation or recount. The secretary selects counties and must issue audit orders after consulting statistical experts, equipment vendors, and state and county election officials. Beginning July 1, 2025, primary audits are due August 31 that year; general-election audits are due June 30 the following year. The specified 2024 general-election audit instead has a later deadline of August 31, 2026. That deadline exception expires July 1, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Timothy Wesco

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Kyle Pierce

    Republican • House

  • Mike Gaskill

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 215 • No: 100

House vote • 4/23/2025

Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House

Yes: 65 • No: 25

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate

Yes: 36 • No: 9

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 34 • No: 8

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

Amendment #2 (Ford J.D.) failed

Yes: 15 • No: 33

House vote • 2/11/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 65 • No: 25

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Law 241

    5/6/2025House
  2. Signed by the Governor

    5/6/2025House
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/29/2025Senate
  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    4/24/2025Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    4/24/2025House
  6. Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 523: yeas 65, nays 25

    4/23/2025House
  7. Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 501: yeas 36, nays 9

    4/23/2025Senate
  8. CCR # 1 filed in the House

    4/22/2025House
  9. Representative Pierce K added as conferee

    4/22/2025House
  10. Senator Schmitt added as conferee

    4/22/2025Senate
  11. CCR # 1 filed in the Senate

    4/22/2025Senate
  12. Senator Ford J.D. removed as conferee

    4/22/2025Senate
  13. Representative Errington removed as conferee

    4/22/2025House
  14. Representative Pierce K added as coauthor

    4/21/2025House
  15. House conferees appointed: Wesco and Errington

    4/15/2025House
  16. House advisors appointed: Payne, Yocum, Boy, Jackson C and Pryor

    4/15/2025House
  17. House dissented from Senate amendments

    4/14/2025House
  18. Senate advisors appointed: Spencer and Walker G

    4/14/2025Senate
  19. Senate conferees appointed: Gaskill and Ford J.D.

    4/14/2025Senate
  20. Motion to dissent filed

    4/14/2025House
  21. Returned to the House with amendments

    4/11/2025Senate
  22. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 384: yeas 34, nays 8

    4/10/2025Senate
  23. Amendment #3 (Ford J.D.) failed; voice vote

    4/7/2025Senate
  24. Amendment #4 (Gaskill) prevailed; voice vote

    4/7/2025Senate
  25. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    4/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed House Bill (H)

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

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