Elections and Apportionment

SB 113 extends the required preservation period for certain election records from 22 months to 60 months, effective January 1, 2026. This change directly affects election officials and agencies responsible for handling ballots, tabulation data, and other election-related materials. The key provision mandates that these records must now be retained for a longer period (5 years instead of just over 1 year) before disposal. The bill passed unanimously in the House on January 22, 2026, with no recorded opposition.

Separates out the procedures for how a county election board and the Indiana election commission (commission) may administratively disband certain committees into two different sections of the Indiana Code. Allows the commission to administratively disband a committee if: (1) the committee has not filed a report of expenditures during the previous calendar year; (2) the committee has never filed a report of expenditures or the last report filed reported cash on hand that did not exceed $1,000; and (3) the election division has attempted to contact the committee but the communication was returned or otherwise undeliverable. Removes the discretion of the commission with respect to certain civil penalties that may be imposed and instead requires the commission to impose the civil penalties. Requires the commission to assess a civil penalty of $1,000 or $500, plus investigative costs, for certain violations. Provides that a $500 civil penalty shall be assessed for a violation of certain electronic filing requirements.

Provides that when an individual files a notice of withdrawal listing an address different from the address on the individual's voter registration record, the individual's signature on the notice of withdrawal constitutes a request to the county voter registration office that the address on the individual's voter registration record be the same as the address on the notice of withdrawal.

SB 12 prohibits local governments from using ranked choice voting in municipal or school board elections. It directly affects communities that had adopted or planned to adopt this voting method. The bill's key provision bans the implementation of ranked choice voting systems by local election authorities. The bill passed the House on January 20, 2026, with 38 votes in favor and 9 against. This legislation prevents any future use of ranked choice voting for local elections in the state.

SB 25, despite its misleading "Vehicle Bill" title, is actually a school board election procedure bill. It requires that when multiple candidates run for a school board position within specific designated candidate groups, they must be listed in a defined order: first by their group designation, then alphabetically by last name. This rule directly affects school board candidates and election administrators in districts where this candidate grouping applies. The bill focuses solely on standardizing candidate ordering for ballot presentation, with no other policy changes or financial impacts described. (Note: The title "Vehicle Bill" appears to be an error based on the bill's actual content.)