Indiana Ballot Access

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Indiana FEC Information
ELECTION INFO: SECRETARY OF STATE
Phone: (317)232-6531
Email: constituent@sos.IN.gov
STATE-ISTICS: STATE INFORMATION
Applicable Laws

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Getting on the Ballot

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Signatures Needed: 34,194 signatures
Start collecting: IMMEDIATELY

For 2014: We need a volunteer to run for Secretary of State! If you are interested Email Us! Indiana law provides that the only methods for a political party to gain ballot access for its candidates are to:
(1) have received at least 2% of the votes cast for Secretary of State in the last election for that office (2006). The Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican parties have ballot access through this method; or
(2) to place a candidate on the ballot for Secretary of State in the next election for that office (2014), and for that candidate to receive at least 2% of the votes cast for that office. To be placed on the ballot for 2010, the party must submit petitions signed by a number of registered voters equal to 2% of the votes cast for secretary of state in 2006 (meaning 32,741).

Major party qualifications:

Either of the two parties that received the highest number of votes in the last election for Secretary of State [3-5-2-30]

Primary ballot access:

File declaration of candidacy with the Secretary of State [3-8-3-1]
Deadline: noon 74 days before the primary
Petition: 4,500 signatures, including 500 from each congressional district [3-8-3-2] File petitions with the county voter registration offices in the counties where the signatures were obtained
Deadline: noon 84 days before the primary [3-8-3- 4 & 3-8-2-4]
No filing fees

Qualified minor party qualifications:

Received between 2 and 10% of the vote in the last election for Secretary of State [3-8-4-10]

General ballot access for qualified minor party candidates:

State party chairman submits candidate names to the election division [3-10-4-5]
Deadline: September 1 [3-10-4-5]
In 2000, the Libertarian party was the only qualified minor party

General ballot access for non-qualified and independent candidates:

Petition: 2% of votes cast in the most recent election for Secretary of State (in 2002, this was 30,716 signatures and only one candidate succeeded in getting on the ballot: Pat Buchanan of the Reform Party) [3-8-6-3]
Deadline: between January 1 and noon June 30 [3-8-6-10]
No filing fees

Last day to withdraw from the primary ballot:

74 days before the primary [3-8-2-20]

Primary date:

first Monday in May [3-10-1-3]

Participation:

Closed primary

Voter registration:

29 days before the election
Source: The Reform Institute (December 2003). Presidential Ballot Access: State by State Scorecard. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from https://www.policyarchive.org/bitstream/handle/10207/5646/2003scorecard.pdf?sequence=1.

Write-In Information

By July 3, 2008, the candidate will need to submit the following to the Indiana Election Division: 1) A “CAN-3” Form (see instructions below). MUST BE NOTARIZED 2) A list of Presidential electors, residents of Indiana. The candidate must list at least 1 elector, name(s) only, and no more than 11. The sheet that contains this list should make reference to the “CAN-3” Form like this, or words to this effect: "This list is incorporated by reference in the CAN-3 form executed by me on (this date)." Mail to: Indiana Secretary of State Elections Division 302 West Washington Street Room E-204 Indianapolis, IN 46204 INSTRUCTIONS for CAN-3 Form: On questions 1, 7, and 8, concerning residence, simply include the correct information regarding your residence, but cross out "Indiana", and insert the name of the applicable state. With regard to the presidential electors needed, Indiana Code 3-8-2-2.5(f) states that a write -in candidate must list at least 1 candidate for presidential elector, and may not list more than the total number of presidential electors to be chosen in Indiana (11). This list would be considered part of the CAN-3 document, which is notarized by the candidate. You may wish to include a statement to the effect of "This list is incorporated by reference in the CAN-3 form executed by me on this date", or words to that effect. Brad King Co-Director Indiana Election Division (317) 232-3939 (800) 622-4941
Source: Frank Moore (May 8, 2008). US Presidential Write-In Candidate Requirements For Each State. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from http://www.writein2008.blogspot.com/