Ind. Code ch. 3-5-2.1

Ind. Code ch. 3-5-2.1
in effect

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-1 Application of definitions

Sec. 1. The definitions in this chapter apply throughout this title. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-2 "Absent uniformed services voter"

Sec. 2. "Absent uniformed services voter" refers to any of the following: (1) A member of a uniformed service on active duty who, by reason of active duty, is absent from the place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote. (2) A member of the merchant marine who, by reason of service in the merchant marine, is absent from the place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote. (3) A member of the Indiana national guard deployed or on assignment outside Indiana. (4) A spouse or dependent of a member referred to in subdivision (1), (2), or (3) who, by reason of the active duty or service of the member, is absent from the place of residence where the spouse or dependent is otherwise qualified to vote. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-3 "Active voter"

Sec. 3. "Active voter" means the following: (1) For purposes of IC 3-11-1.5, refers to a voter who satisfies either of the following: (A) The voter has registered or voted in any election during the preceding four (4) years at the address indicated on the voter's registration record. (B) The voter has not voted in any election during the preceding four (4) years at the address indicated on the voter's registration record and has responded in writing to an address confirmation notice sent under IC 3-7 not later than thirty (30) days after the notice was sent. (2) For purposes of IC 3-11-18.1, has the meaning set forth in IC 3-11-18.1-2. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-4 "Anomaly"

Sec. 4. "Anomaly" means an action or response by a voting system or electronic poll book that: (1) does not conform with the specifications or perform as certified and is critical to the administration of elections; (2) causes a delay or disruption to voting or vote tabulation; or (3) occurs due to a root cause that is unable to be determined within forty-eight (48) hours after initial discovery by the vendor or county. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-5 "Automatic tabulating machine"

Sec. 5. "Automatic tabulating machine" means: (1) apparatus necessary to automatically count votes cast on a voting system; and (2) data processing machines that can be used for counting ballots and tabulating results. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-6 "Auxiliary party organization"

Sec. 6. "Auxiliary party organization" means an organization located within or outside Indiana that: (1) is affiliated with a political party; (2) proposes to influence the election of a candidate for state, legislative, local, or school board office, or the outcome of a public question; and (3) has not: (A) had an annual expenditure of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more in at least one (1) of the last two (2) years; or (B) made a contribution of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) to another committee or to a candidate. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-7 "Background check"

Sec. 7. "Background check" refers to the "national criminal history background check" defined in IC 10-13-3-12. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-8 "Ballot"

Sec. 8. "Ballot" means: (1) the paper ballot prepared, printed, and supplied for use at an election; (2) the electronic display prepared, printed, and supplied for use on the front of an electronic voting system; or (3) the ballot card prepared, printed, and supplied for use in a ballot card voting system. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-9 "Ballot card"

Sec. 9. "Ballot card" refers to an optical scan ballot. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-10 "Ballot card voting system"

Sec. 10. "Ballot card voting system" refers to an optical scan voting system. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-11 "Ballot label"

Sec. 11. "Ballot label" means any of the following: (1) The printed strip or sheet of cardboard or paper, supplied for use on an electronic voting system, that contains the names of the candidates and the public questions on the ballot. (2) The material, supplied for use with a ballot card voting system, that contains those names and questions. (3) The digital image of the ballot on the screen of an electronic voting system or the interface of the marking device used with an optical scan voting system. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-12 "Board of elections and registration"

Sec. 12. "Board of elections and registration" refers to a board of elections and registration established under any of the following: (1) IC 3-6-5.2. (2) IC 3-6-5.4. (3) IC 3-6-5.6. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-13 "Bona fide political party"

Sec. 13. "Bona fide political party" means: (1) a major political party; or (2) a political party that has: (A) nominated at least one (1) candidate for political office during the preceding five (5) years; (B) held a convention; or (C) raised money and filed the financial reports required by law. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-14 "Breach of peace"

Sec. 14. "Breach of peace" means breaking or disturbing the public peace, order, or decorum by any riotous, forcible, or unlawful proceedings, including fighting or tumultuous conduct. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-15 "Candidacy document"

Sec. 15. "Candidacy document" refers to any of the following: (1) A declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. (2) A declaration of candidacy. (3) A consent to the nomination. (4) A consent to become a candidate. (5) A certificate of candidate selection. (6) A consent filed under IC 3-13-2-7. (7) A statement filed under IC 33-24-2, IC 33-25-2, IC 33-33-45-42, IC 33-33-49-13.3, or IC 33-33-71-43. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-16 "Candidate"

Sec. 16. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d), "candidate" means an individual who: (1) has taken the action necessary to qualify under Indiana law for listing on the ballot at an election or to become a write-in candidate; (2) has publicly announced or declared candidacy for an elected office; or (3) otherwise seeks nomination for or election to an elected office, regardless of whether the individual wins election to the office. (b) As used in IC 3-9, an individual becomes a "candidate" when the individual, the candidate's committee, or a person acting with the consent of the individual: (1) receives more than one hundred dollars ($100) in contributions; (2) makes more than one hundred dollars ($100) in expenditures; (3) is required to file a written instrument designating a principal committee under IC 3-9-1-5.5 or IC 3-9-5-1; (4) is subject to campaign contribution limits under IC 3-9-2; (5) is subject to campaign expense restrictions under IC 3-9-3; or (6) is subject to requirements for campaign communications including fabricated media under IC 3-9-8. (c) As used in IC 3-13-1 and IC 3-13-2, "candidate" includes an individual filling a general or municipal election ballot vacancy under IC 3-13-1 or IC 3-13-2 when a county or town election board, the Indiana election commission, or a court has determined that the required action of: (1) the individual; or (2) another person under IC 3-13-1 or IC 3-13-2; is void or invalid. (d) As used in IC 3-14-3-18, "candidate" includes an individual described in IC 3-14-3-18(a). As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.23-2026, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-17 "Candidate's committee"

Sec. 17. "Candidate's committee" means: (1) the principal political committee that each candidate is required to have under IC 3-9-1; or (2) an exploratory committee established by a candidate who has not decided whether to become a candidate for a specific office. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-18 "Caucus"

Sec. 18. As used in IC 3-9, "caucus" refers to a caucus to fill a candidate vacancy under IC 3-13-1 or IC 3-13-2. The term does not include a caucus to fill a vacant office under IC 3-13-5 or IC 3-13-11. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-19 "Central committee"

Sec. 19. "Central committee" means a state committee, congressional district committee, county committee, city committee, or town committee of a political party. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-20 "Chairman"

Sec. 20. "Chairman" refers to the chairman of a central committee as follows: (1) State chairman, chairman of a state committee. (2) District chairman, chairman of a congressional district committee. (3) County chairman, chairman of a county committee. (4) City chairman, chairman of a city committee. (5) Town chairman, chairman of a town committee. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-21 "Chute"

Sec. 21. "Chute" means the area that extends fifty (50) feet in radius, measured from the entrance to: (1) the polls; or (2) for purposes of early voting: (A) the office of the circuit court clerk; or (B) a satellite office of the circuit court clerk established under IC 3-11-10-26.3. If the property line of the polling place or an office described in subdivision (2) is less than fifty (50) feet from the door or entrance to the polling place or office, the chute is measured from the exterior door or entrance to the polling place or office to one-half (1/2) the distance to the property line of the polling place or office nearest to the entrance to the polls. Whenever there are two (2) or more doors or entrances to the polls, the inspector of the precinct shall designate one (1) door or entrance as the door for voters to enter for the purpose of voting. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-22 "City"

Sec. 22. "City" means a first class city, second class city, or third class city as classified under IC 36-4-1-1. The term does not include towns. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-23 "Commission"

Sec. 23. "Commission" refers to the Indiana election commission established by IC 3-6-4.1-1. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-24 "Consolidated city"

Sec. 24. "Consolidated city" refers to a first class city that has become a consolidated city under IC 36-3-1. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-25 "Contestee"

Sec. 25. "Contestee" means a candidate whose nomination or election is being contested by a contestor. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-26 "Contestor"

Sec. 26. "Contestor" means a person who initiates a proceeding to contest the result of an election. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-27 "Contribution"

Sec. 27. (a) "Contribution" means a donation (whether characterized as an advance, a deposit, a gift, a loan, a subscription, or a contract or promise to make a donation) of property (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-253) that satisfies both of the following: (1) The donation is made for the purpose of influencing any of the following: (A) The nomination or election to office of a candidate. (B) The election of delegates to a state constitutional convention. (C) The outcome of a public question. (2) The donation is accepted by any of the following: (A) A candidate. (B) A candidate's committee. (C) A regular party committee. (D) A political action committee. (E) A legislative caucus committee. (b) Whenever: (1) funds are transferred from one (1) committee to another; or (2) a donation of funds to influence an election on a public question is accepted as a contribution; the accepting committee is considered to be receiving a contribution in the amount of the funds transferred. (c) Whenever a candidate or a committee accepts the personal services of a person whose compensation is being paid by a third person, the candidate or committee is considered to be receiving a contribution from the third person in the amount of the compensation paid. (d) The term defined in subsection (a) includes a donation of property (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-253): (1) that satisfies subsection (a)(1) and (a)(2); and (2) through a payment platform that acts as a conduit. (e) This subsection does not apply to a contribution described in IC 3-9-2-11.5. Notwithstanding subsection (a), whenever a candidate or a committee accepts the personal services of a volunteer who is not being compensated, the candidate or committee is not considered to be receiving a contribution. (f) This subsection does not apply to a contribution described in IC 3-9-2-11.5. Notwithstanding subsection (a), whenever a political action committee accepts a donation of: (1) rent; (2) office expenses; (3) management fees; (4) costs of solicitations of contributions; or (5) other administrative costs; the committee is not considered to be receiving a contribution. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-28 "Convention"

Sec. 28. "Convention" means an organized body of delegates assembled for the purpose of selecting their political party's nominees for elected offices. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-29 "County election board"

Sec. 29. "County election board" refers to a board established by IC 3-6-5-1. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-30 "County voter registration office"

Sec. 30. "County voter registration office" means the following: (1) A board of registration established under IC 3-7-12. (2) A board of elections and registration. (3) The office of the circuit court clerk, in a county in which a board has not been established under subdivision (1) or (2). As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-31 "De minimis change"

Sec. 31. "De minimis change", with respect to a certified voting system's or a certified electronic poll book's hardware, software, technical documentation, or data, refers to a change which will not materially alter the system's reliability, functionality, capability, or operation. A change is not a de minimis change if the change has reasonable and identifiable potential to affect the voting system's or electronic poll book's operation and compliance with applicable Indiana law. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-32 "Domicile"

Sec. 32. "Domicile" means residence, as determined under IC 3-5-5. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-33 "Elderly"

Sec. 33. "Elderly" means a voter who is at least sixty-five (65) years of age. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-34 "Elected office"

Sec. 34. "Elected office" means a federal office, state office, legislative office, school board office, or local office. Political party offices (such as precinct committeeman and state convention delegate) are not considered to be elected offices. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-35 "Election day"

Sec. 35. "Election day" refers to the calendar day on which an election is held. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-36 "Election district"

Sec. 36. "Election district" means the area comprised by precincts where voters who are qualified to vote for a candidate or on a public question reside and whose votes a candidate or committee proposes to influence. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-37 "Election division"

Sec. 37. "Election division" refers to the election division of the secretary of state's office established by IC 3-6-4.2-1. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-38 "Electorate"

Sec. 38. "Electorate" means all the voters eligible to vote in an election in the state or a political subdivision. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-39 "Electronic poll book"

Sec. 39. "Electronic poll book" means the combination of mechanical, electromechanical, and electronic equipment (including the software, firmware, documentation, and backend infrastructure and services, including cloud platform services, required to program, control, and support the equipment) that is used to access and maintain the electronic poll list. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-40 "Electronic poll list"

Sec. 40. "Electronic poll list" means a poll list that is maintained in a computer data base. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-41 "Electronic voting system"

Sec. 41. "Electronic voting system" means a system in which: (1) voters record their votes by activating touch sensitive marking devices; and (2) votes are counted by automatic tabulating machines. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-42 "Executive"

Sec. 42. "Executive" means the following: (1) The board of county commissioners, for a county that does not have a consolidated city. (2) The mayor of the consolidated city, for a county having a consolidated city. (3) The mayor, for a city. (4) The president of the town council, for a town. (5) The trustee, for a township. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-43 "Expedited basis"

Sec. 43. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), "expedited basis" refers to the processing of: (1) a voter registration application; (2) a cancellation of a voter registration application; (3) a transfer of a voter registration application; or (4) another document that creates or amends the voter registration record of an individual; not later than forty-eight (48) hours after the document is received by a county voter registration office or an agency required under IC 3-7 to transmit voter registration documents to a county voter registration office. (b) If a voter registration application or other document listed in subsection (a) includes a partial Social Security number that must be submitted to the Commissioner of Social Security for verification under 42 U.S.C. 405(r), "expedited basis" refers to the processing of the application or document not later than forty-eight (48) hours after the bureau of motor vehicles commission receives verification from the Commissioner regarding the partial Social Security number. (c) This subsection applies to the processing of a voter registration document described in subsection (a)(1) that is received by a county voter registration office not more than seven (7) days before the close of a registration period under IC 3-7-13-10. The processing of a document subject to this subsection on an "expedited basis" refers to processing not later than seven (7) days following the receipt of the document. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-44 "Expenditure"

Sec. 44. (a) "Expenditure" means a disbursement (whether characterized as an advance, a deposit, a distribution, a gift, a loan, a payment, a purchase, or a contract or promise to make a disbursement) of property (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-253) that: (1) is made for the purpose of influencing: (A) the nomination or election to office of a candidate; (B) the election of delegates to a state constitutional convention; or (C) the outcome of a public question; and (2) is made by: (A) an individual, except that a contribution made by an individual is not considered to be an expenditure; (B) a candidate's committee; (C) a regular party committee; or (D) a political action committee. (b) Whenever funds are transferred from one committee to another, the disbursing committee is considered to be making an expenditure in the amount of the funds transferred. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-45 "Fax"

Sec. 45. "Fax" refers to transmission of information by a facsimile (fax) machine. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-46 "Federal office"

Sec. 46. "Federal office" refers to President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, and Senator and Representative in the Congress of the United States. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-47 "Filing"

Sec. 47. "Filing" means the following: (1) For purposes of filing an electronic report under IC 3-9-4-4 or IC 3-9-5-7, when the requirements of IC 3-9-4-4 or IC 3-9-5-7 have been met. (2) For all other purposes, when all of the following have occurred: (A) The presentation of a document to an individual required to receive the document under this title. (B) The receipt of the document by the individual. (C) The recording of the date and time the document was received by the individual. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-48 "Fiscal body"

Sec. 48. "Fiscal body" means: (1) county council, for a county not having a consolidated city; (2) city-county council, for a consolidated city or county having a consolidated city; (3) common council, for a second or third class city; (4) town council, for a town; (5) township board, for a township; or (6) governing body or budget approval body, for any other political subdivision. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-49 "Fiscal officer"

Sec. 49. "Fiscal officer" means the city controller of a second class city or the clerk-treasurer of a town or third class city. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-49.6 "Foreign national"

Sec. 49.6. For purposes of IC 3-9-2-11.5, "foreign national" has the meaning set forth in 52 U.S.C. 30121(b). As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-50 "Former candidate"

Sec. 50. "Former candidate" refers to an individual who was a candidate for an election and satisfies any of the following: (1) The individual has died before the election, including a candidate certified as deceased under IC 3-8-7-1. (2) The individual has withdrawn as a candidate before the election. (3) The individual has been disqualified as a candidate under IC 3-8-1-5. (4) The individual has been disqualified as a candidate under a court order issued under IC 3-8-7-29(d). As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-51 "HAVA"

Sec. 51. "HAVA" refers to the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20901 through 52 U.S.C. 21145). As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-52 "IDEA"

Sec. 52. "IDEA" refers to the Indiana data enhancement association established by IC 3-7-38.2-5.5. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-53 "Independent"

Sec. 53. "Independent" means a candidate, or a ticket of candidates for President and Vice President of the United States or for governor and lieutenant governor, who states that the candidate or ticket is not affiliated with any political party. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-53.3 "Independent expenditure"

Sec. 53.3. "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a person expressly advocating the approval or rejection of a public question. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-54 "Individual with a nontraditional residence"

Sec. 54. "Individual with a nontraditional residence" means a person who: (1) does not reside in a private residential dwelling or an institutional structure; and (2) maintains a mobile residence or usually sleeps in a shelter, public area, or public right-of-way. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-55 "Inhabitant"

Sec. 55. "Inhabitant", for purposes of: (1) Article 4, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana; and (2) Article 6, Section 4 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana; means a person who resides at a location, as determined under IC 3-5-5. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-56 "Law enforcement officer"

Sec. 56. "Law enforcement officer" means a: (1) police officer; (2) sheriff; (3) constable; (4) marshal; or (5) deputy of any of those persons. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-57 "Lawful detention"

Sec. 57. "Lawful detention" has the meaning set forth in IC 35-31.5-2-186. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-58 "Legislative body"

Sec. 58. "Legislative body" means the body having the power to adopt county, city, or town ordinances under IC 36-1-3-6. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-59 "Legislative caucus committee"

Sec. 59. "Legislative caucus committee" means an organization that satisfies all of the following: (1) The organization is organized by members of the general assembly who belong to the same state political party. (2) The organization proposes to influence only the election of candidates for legislative office. (3) The organization accepts contributions or makes expenditures that in the aggregate exceed one hundred dollars ($100) during a calendar year to influence only the election of candidates for legislative office. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-60 "Legislative office"

Sec. 60. "Legislative office" refers to senator and representative in the general assembly. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-61 "Local office"

Sec. 61. "Local office" means a circuit office, county office, city office, town office, township office, or other civil office for which the electorate of a political subdivision votes. The term includes all elected offices other than federal, state, legislative, and school board offices. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-62 "Major political party"

Sec. 62. "Major political party" refers to: (1) with respect to the state, either of the two (2) parties whose nominees received the highest and second highest numbers of votes statewide for secretary of state in the last election; or (2) with respect to a political subdivision, either of the two (2) parties whose nominees received the highest and second highest numbers of votes in that political subdivision for secretary of state in the last election. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-63 "Marking device"

Sec. 63. (a) "Marking device" means: (1) a pencil or pen for marking a paper ballot or ballot card; or (2) an approved device that automatically: (A) registers the voter's vote on an electronic voting system; or (B) produces a marked optical scan ballot indicating the choices of the voter. (b) A voter verifiable paper audit trail is not a marking device. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-64 "Member of the military or public safety officer"

Sec. 64. "Member of the military or public safety officer" has the meaning set forth in IC 10-14-2-5. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-65 "Modification"

Sec. 65. "Modification", for a certified voting system, refers to a change: (1) in the software or firmware of the voting system; or (2) to the hardware of the voting system that: (A) materially alters the system's reliability, functionality, capacity, or operation; or (B) has a reasonable and identifiable potential to affect the voting system's operation and compliance with the applicable voting system standards. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-66 "Municipality"

Sec. 66. "Municipality" means a city or town. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-67 "Nomination date"

Sec. 67. "Nomination date" refers to the following: (1) For candidates nominated in a primary election, the date of the primary election. (2) For candidates nominated in a convention, the date the convention is scheduled to be called to order, according to the call of the convention issued by the political party. (3) For candidates selected to fill a ballot vacancy, the date the certificate of selection of the candidate is filed under IC 3-13-1-15 or IC 3-13-2-8. (4) For candidates nominated by petition, the final date the petition of nomination is permitted to be filed under IC 3-8-6-10(c). (5) For write-in candidates, the final date the candidate's declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate is permitted to be filed under IC 3-8-2-4. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-68 "Nominee"

Sec. 68. "Nominee" means a candidate: (1) nominated by a political party at a primary election or convention under this title as the party's candidate for an elected office in a general, municipal, or special election; or (2) nominated by petition for an elected office. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-69 "NVRA"

Sec. 69. "NVRA" refers to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 through 52 U.S.C. 20511). As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-70 "NVRA official"

Sec. 70. "NVRA official" refers to the designee under IC 3-7-11-1. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-71 "Office"

Sec. 71. "Office" refers to the office of census data established by IC 2-5-1.1-12.2. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-72 "Optical scan ballot"

Sec. 72. "Optical scan ballot" means a card or another paper on which votes are: (1) recorded by marking the card with a marking device; and (2) tabulated by an optical system that reads the marks on the card or paper. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-73 "Optical scan voting system"

Sec. 73. "Optical scan voting system" means a voting system using optical scan ballots. The term includes a voting system that consists of features of both a ballot card voting system and an electronic voting system. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-74 "Organization"

Sec. 74. "Organization" means a person that is not an individual. The term includes a business firm or corporation, a limited liability company, a labor organization, a religious organization, a political club, a trustee, a receiver, or any other type of association or group of individuals. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-75 "Overseas voter"

Sec. 75. "Overseas voter" refers to any of the following: (1) An absent uniformed services voter who, by reason of active duty or service, is absent from the United States on the date of the election involved. (2) A person who resides outside the United States and is qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the United States. (3) A person who resides outside the United States and, but for such residence, would be qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the United States. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-76 "Paper ballot"

Sec. 76. (a) "Paper ballot" refers to a ballot that is: (1) marked by a voter using a pen or pencil; and (2) designed to be counted by hand and not counted on an automatic tabulating machine. (b) The term does not include a ballot card. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-77 "Person"

Sec. 77. "Person" means an individual or an organization. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-78 "Political action committee"

Sec. 78. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), "political action committee" means an organization located within or outside Indiana that satisfies all of the following: (1) The organization proposes to influence: (A) the election of a candidate for state, legislative, local, or school board office; or (B) the outcome of a public question. (2) The organization accepts contributions or makes expenditures during a calendar year: (A) to influence the election of a candidate for state, legislative, local, or school board office or the outcome of a public question that will appear on the ballot in Indiana; and (B) that in the aggregate exceed one hundred dollars ($100). (3) The organization is not any of the following: (A) An auxiliary party organization. (B) A legislative caucus committee. (C) A regular party committee. (D) A candidate's committee. (b) A corporation or labor organization that makes a contribution in accordance with IC 3-9-2 or makes an expenditure is not considered a political action committee. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-79 "Political subdivision"

Sec. 79. "Political subdivision" means a county, city, town, township, school corporation, public library, local housing authority, fire protection district, public transportation corporation, local building authority, local hospital authority or corporation, local airport authority, special service district, special taxing district, or other type of local governmental corporate entity. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-80 "Polls"

Sec. 80. "Polls" means the room in a structure where the voters of a precinct vote by casting ballots on election day. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-81 "Precinct"

Sec. 81. "Precinct" means a subdivision of a county or township established for election purposes. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-82 "Precinct election officer"

Sec. 82. "Precinct election officer" means a person appointed to serve in a precinct as one (1) of the following: (1) Inspector. (2) Judge. (3) Poll clerk. (4) Assistant poll clerk. (5) Election sheriff. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-82.4 "Preliminary activity"

Sec. 82.4. For purposes of IC 3-9-1-4, "preliminary activity" includes conducting a poll, drafting language for a public question, the planning and use of a focus group, a telephone call, or engaging in travel. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-83 "Presidential elector"

Sec. 83. (a) "Presidential elector" refers to an elector for President and Vice President of the United States as provided in Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States and Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. (b) The term includes an alternate presidential elector elected as provided in IC 3-10-4, unless the text or the context of the statute provides otherwise. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-83.6 "Prohibited source"

Sec. 83.6. "Prohibited source" is a foreign national. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-84 "Proof of identification"

Sec. 84. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), "proof of identification" refers to a document that satisfies all the following: (1) The document shows the name of the individual to whom the document was issued, and the name conforms to the name in the individual's voter registration record. (2) The document shows a photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued. (3) The document includes an expiration date, and the document: (A) is not expired; or (B) expired after the date of the most recent general election. (4) The document was issued by the United States or the state of Indiana. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(3), a document issued by the United States Department of Defense, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (or its predecessor, the Veterans Administration), a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine, the Indiana National Guard, or a Native American Indian tribe or band recognized by the United States government that: (1) otherwise complies with the requirements of subsection (a); and (2) has no expiration date or states that the document has an indefinite expiration date; is sufficient proof of identification for purposes of this title. (c) The term does not include a document issued by an educational institution. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-85 "Provisional ballot"

Sec. 85. "Provisional ballot" refers to a ballot cast in accordance with the provisions of IC 3-11.7. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-86 "Provisional voter"

Sec. 86. "Provisional voter" refers to an individual who is entitled to cast a provisional ballot under IC 3-11.7. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-87 "Public question"

Sec. 87. "Public question" means a constitutional amendment, proposition, or other issue submitted to the electorate at an election. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-87.5 "Ranked choice voting"

Sec. 87.5. "Ranked choice voting" refers to a system of voting that: (1) allows a voter to rank to each candidate on a ballot for a particular office in an order of preference; and (2) tabulates each ballot in multiple rounds following the elimination of a candidate; until a single candidate receives a majority of the votes cast. As added by P.L.5-2026, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-88 "Registration agency"

Sec. 88. "Registration agency" refers to any of the following: (1) The bureau of motor vehicles. (2) Any other agency at which individuals may register to vote under IC 3-7. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-89 "Regular party committee"

Sec. 89. "Regular party committee" means: (1) a central committee; or (2) a national committee of a political party. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-90 "Residence"

Sec. 90. "Residence" means the place: (1) where a person has the person's true, fixed, and permanent home and principal establishment; and (2) to which the person has, whenever absent, the intention of returning. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-90.3 "Retraction"

Sec. 90.3. "Retraction", with respect to a ballot, means: (1) the removal of votes on the ballot from the memory or the document onto which the votes were recorded; or (2) the exclusion or subtraction of votes on the ballot from the final total from the memory or tabulation system on the document on which the votes were recorded. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-91 "Scantron"

Sec. 91. "Scantron" means an optical scan ballot that consists of an optical scan card that contains: (1) the names of; or (2) coding that indicates the names of; political parties and candidates selected by the voter. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-92 "School board"

Sec. 92. "School board" means the governing body of a school corporation (as defined in IC 20-18-2-5). As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-93 "School board office"

Sec. 93. "School board office" refers to an elected position on the school board of a school corporation. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-94 "School corporation"

Sec. 94. "School corporation" refers to a public school corporation established under IC 20. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-95 "School district"

Sec. 95. "School district" means the taxing district of a school corporation. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-96 "Signing the poll list"

Sec. 96. "Signing the poll list" means: (1) a voter writing the voter's name on the certified list of registered voters for the precinct prepared in accordance with IC 3-7-29-1; or (2) a voter writing the voter's name on an electronic poll book using an electronic signature pad, tablet, or other signature capturing device at a polling place, office of the circuit court clerk (under IC 3-11-10-26), or satellite office (as established under IC 3-11-10-26.3) where the use of an electronic poll book is authorized in accordance with IC 3-7-29-6. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-97 "State office"

Sec. 97. "State office" refers to the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state comptroller (referred to as "auditor of state" in the Constitution of the State of Indiana), treasurer of state, attorney general, justice of the supreme court, judge of the court of appeals, and judge of the tax court. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-97.5 "Tabulated"

Sec. 97.5. "Tabulated" means, with respect to ballots, the process of cumulating into totals the votes on the ballots in a precinct, a county, or the election district for each office and each public question on the ballot in the precinct, county, or election district after accounting for ballots that must be retracted. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-98 "Testing authority"

Sec. 98. "Testing authority" means an independent test authority or independent laboratory: (1) as described in the Voting System Standards issued by the Federal Election Commission on April 30, 2002; or (2) accredited under Section 231 of HAVA (52 U.S.C. 20971). As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-99 "Town"

Sec. 99. "Town" refers to an incorporated town of any population. The term does not include cities. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-100 "Uniformed services"

Sec. 100. "Uniformed services" means any of the following: (1) The United States Army. (2) The United States Navy. (3) The United States Air Force. (4) The United States Marine Corps. (5) The United States Coast Guard. (6) The United States Space Force. (7) The commissioned corps of the Public Health Service. (8) The commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.145-2026, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-101 "United States"

Sec. 101. "United States", as used in section 75 of this chapter, means any of the states of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-102 "Unknown or insufficient address"

Sec. 102. "Unknown or insufficient address" refers to an address on a mailing returned by the United States Postal Service with one (1) or more of substantially the following statements made on the mailing by the United States Postal Service or a person residing at the address to which the mailing was sent: (1) Attempted-Not Known. (2) Box Closed. (3) Deceased. (4) Forwarding time expired. (5) Insufficient Address. (6) Left No Address. (7) Moved. (8) No such number. (9) No such office in state. (10) No such street. (11) Not deliverable as addressed. (12) Refused. (13) Returned for better address. (14) Returned to sender. (15) Unable to forward. (16) Unclaimed. (17) Undeliverable as addressed. (18) Vacant. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-103 "Vote center"

Sec. 103. "Vote center" means a polling place where a voter who resides in the county in which the vote center is located may vote without regard to the precinct in which the voter resides. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-104 "Voter"

Sec. 104. "Voter" means a person who is qualified and registered to vote in an election. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-105 "Voter identification number"

Sec. 105. "Voter identification number" refers to the number determined for a voter under IC 3-7-13-13. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-106 "Voter with disabilities"

Sec. 106. "Voter with disabilities" means a voter who has a permanent or temporary physical disability, as set forth in 52 U.S.C. 20107. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-107 "Voter with print disabilities"

Sec. 107. "Voter with print disabilities" means an individual who is unable to independently mark a paper ballot or ballot card due to blindness, low vision, or a physical disability that impairs manual dexterity. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-108 "Voter's bill of rights"

Sec. 108. "Voter's bill of rights" refers to the statement prescribed by the commission under IC 3-5-8. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-109 "Voting mark"

Sec. 109. "Voting mark" means any of the following: (1) A cross mark or check mark (X or ✔) on a hand-counted paper ballot. (2) A shaded-in circle, oval, or square, or a connected arrow on an optical scan ballot card. (3) A highlighted area on a direct record electronic voting system. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-110 "Voting method"

Sec. 110. "Voting method" means the use of: (1) paper ballots; (2) ballot card voting systems; (3) electronic voting systems; or (4) any combination of these; to register votes in a precinct. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-111 "Voting system"

Sec. 111. "Voting system" means, as provided in 52 U.S.C. 21081: (1) the total combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic equipment (including the software, firmware, and documentation required to program, control, and support that equipment) that is used: (A) to define ballots; (B) to cast and count votes; (C) to report or display election results; and (D) to maintain and produce any audit trail information; and (2) the practices and associated documentation used: (A) to identify system components and versions of those components; (B) to test the system during its development and maintenance; (C) to maintain records of system errors and defects; (D) to determine specific system changes to be made to a system after the initial qualification of the system; and (E) to make available any materials to the voter (such as notices, instructions, forms, or paper ballots). As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-112 "VSTOP"

Sec. 112. "VSTOP" refers to the voting system technical oversight program established by IC 3-11-16-2. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-113 "Web Content Guidelines"

Sec. 113. "Web Content Guidelines" refers to version 2.1 of the recommendations for making web content accessible for individuals with disabilities published on June 5, 2018, by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 3-5-2.1-114 "Write-in candidate"

Sec. 114. "Write-in candidate" means a candidate: (1) who has filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate; and (2) whose declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate has been accepted by the appropriate authority under IC 3-8-2-5 and IC 3-8-2-6. As added by P.L.186-2025, SEC.6.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/3Fetched: 10/17/2026

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