Key Players in Indiana Election Administration and Regulation

1 Indiana Circuit Court Clerk Association March 2025 District Conference Presented by Brad King Co-Director, Indiana Election Division & Valerie Warycha, Co-Counsel, Indiana Election Division

2 Key Players FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Federal Election Commission (FEC) Enforces campaign finance law for federal candidates/PACs Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Offers best practices in election administration Approves voluntary voting system guidelines (VVSG) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Handles complaints regarding radio/television/internet communications for all candidates & committees US Department of Defense, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Assists military & overseas voters in managing voting process

3 Key Players STATE GOVERNMENT Secretary of State Serves as state s chief election official (as required by HAVA) except as provided by 3-7-11-1 (coordination of state responsibilities under NVRA) Indiana Election Division Serves as state s chief voter registration officials for purposes of NVRA Indiana Election Commission

4 Key Players INDIANA ELECTION DIVISION Bi-partisan Co-Directors Nominated by their respective state party chairs Appointed by governor Serve four-year term Partners with SOS Supports Indiana Election Commission Republicans Democrats Brad King, Co-Director Angie Nussmeyer, Co-Director Valerie Warycha, Co-Counsel Matthew Kochevar, Co-Counsel Michelle Thompson, Campaign Finance Abbey Taylor, Campaign Finance Lori Clark, GIS/Maps Stephanie Davidsen, GIS/Maps Joe Mclain, Executive Assistant Kimmy Hollowell-Williams IC 3-6-4.2

5 Key Players INDIANA ELECTION DIVISION Manages candidate filings for judicial officers, state legislative, statewide, federal candidates Manages campaign finance filings for state legislative, statewide candidates, legislative caucuses, some PACs, and some regular party committees Maintains software infrastructure of the statewide voter registration system Electronic recordkeeping is managed by the county voter registration official Provides advice to & develop materials for county election boards, clerks, voter registration officials, party leaders, public Fills public records requests IC 3-6-4.2

6 Key Players INDIANA ELECTION COMMISSION Four-member body (2 Democrats, 2 Republicans) Nominated by state chair, appointed by governor & serves a 2- year term Serve as administrative law judges on issues like: Federal, statewide, state legislative, judicial candidate challenges Campaign finance enforcement for committees filing with IED Approve voting equipment systems Voting systems may be recertified in 2025 if vendor applies Hear other matters, if chair places on agenda IC 3-6-4.1

7 Key Players LOCAL GOVERNMENT County Clerk Serves as county s chief election official Serves as chief voter registration official (in most counties) Serves as secretary to the bi-partisan county election board (CEB) Board of Registration County executive may establish a separate bi-partisan Board of Registration Six counties currently use this model: Allen, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Vanderburgh, and Vigo Managed by co-directors with equal staff Disagreements, enforcement matters are sent to County Election Board IC 3-6-5 | IC 3-7-12

8 Key Players County Election Board Three-member board - 1 Dem, 1 Rep & Elected Clerk By law, Clerk serves as Secretary Vice-chair and chair positions are voted on at a board meeting at any time Chair calls meeting & sets the agenda However, two Board members together may call a meeting and set an agenda Manages Election Day Coding elections, printing ballots, conducting public test of voting equipment, delivering machines to polling sites, mailing absentee ballots, etc. Conducts hearings on campaign finance, candidate challenges, and other election law enforcement needs IC 3-6-5, generally | IC 3-6-5.2 (Lake County) | IC 3-6-5.4 (Tippecanoe County) | IC 3-6-5.6 (Porter County)

9 Key Players LOCAL GOVERNMENT Board of Elections & Registration Special statutes apply to Lake, Porter & Tippecanoe Counties only Places most voter registration & election activities under the management of bi-partisan staff, lead by bi-partisan directors and assistant directors Lake & Porter Counties have a 5-member CEB IC 3-6-5.2 | IC 3-6-5.4 | IC 3-6-5.6

10 Key Federal & State Legislation Federal National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Military & Overseas Voters Empowerment Act (MOVE) Requirements set framework for election & registration procedures when federal offices are on the ballot Indiana Title 3, generally Incorporates requirements from federal law Prescribes rules for managing state and local elections

11 State Resources IED Publications Represent the views of the bi-partisan IED co-directors Materials include: Candidate Guide Campaign Finance Manual Election Administrators Manual Voter Registration Guidebook Indianavoters.com Online voter registration tool Online absentee application for mail/travel board Provides access to current & historical election results which may be viewed online and downloaded

12 Redistricting Amnesty IC 3-5-10-7, IC 3-5-10-7.1 A local government that did not redistrict or recertify election districts following the 2020 census must redistrict after January 1, 2025 and before November 1, 2025. For election districts where offices are not on the ballot in 2024, redistricting must be done before November 1, 2025. A member of a local government redistricting authority who fails to redistrict or recertify current districts will not be entitled to receive a salary until they comply. The deadline for compliance is June 30, 2025. IC 3-5-10-7, IC 3-5-10-7.1