Conduct of primary elections., the official text

First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)

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  SENATE ENROLLED ACT No. 199

   AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning elections.

   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

   SECTION 1. IC 3-6-9-1 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. (a) If:

      (1) twenty-six percent (26%) two (2) or more of all candidates of
      a political party who are candidates for:

         (A) nomination to elected offices at a county primary election
         (or municipal primary election within the municipality in
         which the municipal primary is to be conducted), not including
         candidates for delegates to the state convention or candidates
         for precinct committeemen; or
         (B) precinct committeemen at an election for precinct
         committeemen, whose names are certified to the county
         election board as candidates to be voted for at the primary
         election for precinct committeemen; or
      (2) any candidate or group of candidates for a school board office;
desire to have watchers at the polls in any precinct of the county or
municipality, they shall sign a written statement indicating their desire
to name watchers.
   (b) If the candidates signing the statement are candidates for
nomination at a county primary election or for election as precinct
committeemen or to a school board office, the written statement shall
be filed with the circuit court clerk of the county where the candidates
reside.
   (c) If the candidates signing the statement are candidates for

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nomination at a municipal primary election, the written statement shall
be filed with the circuit court clerk of the county that contains the
greatest percentage of the population of the election district.

   SECTION 2. IC 3-6-9-1.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. If two (2) or more candidates of a political party
do not sign a written statement indicating their desire to have a
watcher under section 1 of this chapter, the county chairman of a
political party is entitled to appoint a watcher in each precinct in
which the political party has a candidate on the ballot.

SEA 199
President of the Senate

President Pro Tempore

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Governor of the State of Indiana

Date:                             Time:

SEA 199