LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6876 NOTE PREPARED: Jan 2, 2024
BILL NUMBER: HB 1324 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Ballot Access for Major and Minor Parties.
FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Dvorak BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: Definition– The bill provides, for purposes of certain laws, that the term "major
political party" refers to: (1) with respect to the state, any of the parties whose nominees received more than
2,500 votes statewide for Secretary of State in the last election; or (2) with respect to a political subdivision,
any of the parties whose nominees received more than 250 votes in that political subdivision for Secretary
of State in the last election.
Ballot Access– The bill provides that a political party whose nominee received at least 2,500 votes but less
than 25% of the votes cast for Secretary of State at the last election shall nominate the party's candidates at
a state convention and for certain local offices at a county convention.
Petitions– The bill permits a petition of nomination for an independent or minor political party to be signed
by 250 registered voters in the election district that the candidate seeks to represent.
Effective Date: July 1, 2024.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Petitions– Petition forms may need to be revised to reflect the changes
in the bill, which would temporarily increase Election Division workload. However, any adjustments to the
forms would likely be able to be accomplished within the Division’s existing staff resources.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: Ballot Access– If additional candidates for state or local office appear
on general and municipal election ballots in future years, optical scan ballots would become longer,
HB 1324 1 depending on the number of petitions put forth, which would increase printing costs. However, direct
recording electronic ballots would be able to be programed with additional candidates likely without
increasing costs outside of the normal programing costs for the election.
There would be additional workload for county election board staff to determine if they have political
subdivisions that may have had 500 or fewer votes in the most recent election for Secretary of State to
determine which political parties would be considered a “major political party” in that political subdivision.
Additional Information– For the most recent general election for Secretary of State, the one political party
on the ballot that does not qualify for placement on the primary ballot would qualify under the proposed
parameters for nomination of candidates at convention for placement on the general election ballot. However,
that party already qualifies to nominate their candidates under current law.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Election Division.
Local Agencies Affected: County election boards, county clerks.
Information Sources: 2022 General Election results: https://enr.indianavoters.in.gov/site/index.html.
Fiscal Analyst: Chris Baker, 317-232-9851.
HB 1324 2