Title 3, ELECTIONS

Sec. 6.1. An election may not be held for a municipal office if: (1) an election is not required under section 6 of this chapter; and (2) the approval or rejection of a public question is the only other vote that may be cast on the ballot at the municipal election. As added by P.…

Sec. 7. If a town election board is established under section 5.5 of this chapter, the town election board consists of the following three (3) members: (1) The town chairman of each of the major political parties appointed under IC 3-8-5-3. (2) The town clerk-treasurer. [Pre-1986…

Sec. 1. The commission must approve a ballot card voting system before it may be used in an election. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-2-4-6(a) part.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.235; P.L.2-1996, SEC.161; P.L.239-2001, SEC.8; P.L.221-2005, SEC.48…

Sec. 11.5. A ballot card voting system must permit the counting of write-in votes in accordance with IC 3-12-1-7 and IC 3-12-1-7.5. As added by P.L.3-1993, SEC.138. Amended by P.L.21-2016, SEC.10.

Sec. 12. (a) The commission shall: (1) require the vendor to have tests conducted concerning the compliance of a ballot card voting system with HAVA and the standards set forth in this chapter and IC 3-11-15; and (2) have the results of the tests evaluated by the person designate…

Sec. 14. The commission may issue supplementary instructions and procedures for the safe and efficient use of ballot card voting systems to carry out this chapter. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-2-4-7.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.247; P.L.2-19…

Sec. 15. (a) A vendor may apply for approval of a proposed improvement or change to a ballot card voting system that is currently certified by the commission. A proposed improvement or change may not be marketed, sold, leased, installed, or implemented in Indiana before the appli…

Sec. 16. The commission may not approve the marketing, sale, lease, installation, or implementation of a ballot card voting system by a vendor if the commission finds that the system fails to meet all statutory requirements. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-2-4-3(a) part.] As…

Sec. 17. (a) The election division (or the person designated under IC 3-11-16) may periodically examine a ballot card voting system that the commission has previously approved to determine whether the system is still in compliance with all statutory requirements and whether the v…

Sec. 18. (a) The county executive shall file a copy of all contracts, leases, or purchase orders, including modifications, for the sale or lease of voting equipment, systems, or software with the election division. (b) The documents listed in subsection (a) must be filed not late…

Sec. 19. (a) Except as provided in subsection (g), the approval of a ballot card voting system under this chapter expires October 1 of the year following the year in which presidential electors are elected under IC 3-10-2-3. (b) The vendor of a voting system approved under this c…

Sec. 2. The commission may approve a ballot card voting system only if the commission determines that the system meets the standards in this chapter and IC 3-11-15. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-2-4-3(a) part; 3-2-4-6(a) part, (b).] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.7. Amended …

Sec. 20. The county election board is responsible for the care and custody of all ballot card voting systems while not in use. As added by P.L.100-2018, SEC.3.

Sec. 3. A ballot card voting system must enable a voter to cast a vote in secrecy for all offices and public questions for which the voter is entitled to vote. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-2-4-3(a)(1).] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.237.

Sec. 3.5. A ballot card printed for use under this article must have the year of the election to be conducted printed or stamped on the face of the ballot card. As added by P.L.176-1999, SEC.69.

Note: This version of section effective until 1-1-2027. See also following version of this section, effective 1-1-2027. Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a ballot card voting system must permit a voter to vote: (1) except at a primary election, a straight party ti…

Sec. 5. A ballot card voting system must be: (1) suitably designed for the purpose used; (2) of durable construction; (3) safe, efficient, and accurate in the conduct of elections and counting of ballots; and (4) in compliance with the standards for systems that are purchased aft…

Sec. 6. Subject to IC 3-12-1-7.1, a ballot card voting system must count a ballot in accordance with IC 3-12-1-7 when a voter votes a straight ticket vote and votes for individual candidates as described by IC 3-12-1-7. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-2-4-3(a)(4)(A).] As add…

Sec. 1. A vacancy in a county office that was last held by a person elected or selected as a candidate of a major political party of the state shall be filled by a caucus under IC 3-13-11. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-2-9-1 part; 3-2-9-2(a) part.] As added by P.L.5-1986,…

Sec. 1.5. A county auditor may give notice of a meeting under this chapter, and the meeting may be conducted under this chapter, before a vacancy in an office exists if the person holding the office has: (1) submitted a written resignation under IC 5-8-3.5; or (2) been elected to…

Sec. 2. (a) This section applies to a vacancy in a county elected office (other than county council) not covered by section 1 of this chapter. (b) A vacancy shall be filled by the board of commissioners of the county at a regular or special meeting. The county auditor shall give …

Sec. 2.5. (a) This section does not apply to a school board office. (b) This section applies to a vacancy in an elected office in a political subdivision: (1) in which each candidate is required by statute to be placed on the ballot as a nonpartisan candidate for the office; and …

Sec. 3. (a) This section applies to a vacancy in a county council not covered by section 1 of this chapter. (b) A vacancy shall be filled by a majority of the remaining members of the council at a regular or special meeting. The county auditor shall give notice of the meeting. Ex…

Sec. 4. If, pending the outcome of an election contest, the incumbent vacates the office after the expiration of the incumbent's term, the vacancy shall be filled as are other vacancies under this chapter until the election is decided or the office is otherwise filled. This secti…

Sec. 5. A person filling a vacancy under this chapter must give the same bond and take the same oath and has the same rights and duties as the official who vacated the office. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-2-9-11(c); 3-2-10-8.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.9.

Sec. 6. A person selected to fill a vacant office under this chapter holds the office for the remainder of the term. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-2-10-9.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.9.

Sec. 1. (a) Absentee ballot counters shall conduct the activities conducted by precinct election officials in submitting returns to the county election board under IC 3-12-4. (b) The returns of absentee ballot counters shall be treated the same as the returns of a precinct electi…

Sec. 2. The voters appointed as couriers or absentee ballot counters under this article shall be compensated in the following manner: (1) Couriers assigned to deliver absentee ballots certifications to the precincts on election day under IC 3-11.5-4-8, are entitled to a per diem …

Sec. 3. An absentee ballot is considered to be cast in the precinct in which the voter who cast the ballot resides for the purpose of the following chapters: (1) IC 3-12-6. (2) IC 3-12-11. (3) IC 3-12-12. As added by P.L.3-1993, SEC.176 and P.L.19-1993, SEC.2.

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to any order described by 52 U.S.C. 21082(c) to extend the hour for the closing of the polls fixed by IC 3-11-8-8. As added by P.L.278-2019, SEC.136.

Sec. 2. (a) Only a county election board has standing in an Indiana court or with any other state governmental entity to file an action or petition to request the extension of the hour for closing the polls by the court or entity. (b) The county election board may only file an ac…

Sec. 3. (a) Before issuing an order under this chapter, the court or entity must take evidence and make the following findings: (1) The polls were substantially delayed in opening at the time fixed by IC 3-11-8-8. (2) The specific precincts or vote centers in which substantial de…

Sec. 4. If the court or state governmental entity determines that an order extending the hour for the closing of the polls is to be issued, the court or entity must: (1) limit the extension only to those polls whose opening was delayed or which closed during the hours set forth i…

Sec. 5. (a) The county election board may appeal any denial of an order extending the hour for closing the polls issued under this section to the Indiana supreme court under the same terms, conditions, and standards that govern appeals in ordinary civil actions affecting substant…

Sec. 1. The election division shall prescribe a statement of the rights of a voter in Indiana that shall be known as "the voter's bill of rights". As added by P.L.126-2002, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.194-2013, SEC.4.

Sec. 2. The statement required by section 1 of this chapter must contain the following: (1) A statement of the qualifications that an individual must meet to vote in Indiana, including qualifications relating to registration. (2) A statement describing the circumstances that perm…

Sec. 2.5. (a) The election division shall prescribe a statement known as the "Absentee Voter's Bill of Rights". (b) The Absentee Voter's Bill of Rights must be in a form prescribed by the election division and include the following: (1) A statement summarizing the rights and resp…

Sec. 3. (a) As required by 52 U.S.C. 21083, the precinct election board shall post the voter's bill of rights in a public place in each polling place on election day. (b) The commission may require a copy of the voter's bill of rights to be distributed with voter registration mat…

Sec. 4. The secretary of state or other state agency posting election information on the state's website shall include the voter's bill of rights on the website. As added by P.L.126-2002, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.23-2026, SEC.3.

Sec. 5. Not later than twenty-nine (29) days before a primary, general, or municipal election, the secretary of state shall request Indiana news media to include a copy of the voter's bill of rights as part of election coverage or in public service announcements. As added by P.L.…

Sec. 1. (a) The state chairman and county chairman of each bona fide political party or an independent candidate for a federal or a state office are entitled to appoint watchers at each precinct in which the political party or independent candidate is on the ballot. (b) This subs…

Sec. 2. A candidate to be voted for at an election, except as an unopposed candidate for precinct committeeman or state convention delegate, is not eligible to be appointed as a watcher at an election. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-1-6-1 part.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.…

Sec. 2.5. A watcher appointed under this chapter must be a registered voter of the county. As added by P.L.3-1997, SEC.47.

Sec. 3. (a) A watcher present at the polls must possess an identification card issued under this section and present the card if demanded by a member of the precinct election board. (b) The county election board, state chairman, county chairman, or chairman of the committee of th…

Sec. 4. (a) A watcher appointed under this chapter is entitled to do the following: (1) Enter the polls at least thirty (30) minutes before the opening of the polls and remain there throughout election day until all tabulations have been completed. (2) Inspect the paper ballot bo…

Sec. 5. The county election board shall provide blank certificates for the summaries required by section 4(a)(6) of this chapter. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-1-6-2(c)(1) part.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.241-2025, SEC.8.