*SB0199.1*
January 15, 2025
SENATE BILL No. 199
_____
DIGEST OF SB 199 (Updated January 13, 2025 4:08 pm - DI 140)
Citations Affected: IC 3-6.
Synopsis: Conduct of primary elections. Provides that two or more
candidates of a political party may sign a written statement indicating
their desire to name a watcher to be present at a county primary
election. (Current law requires that 26% or more of all candidates of a
political party must sign a written statement to indicate a desire to
name a watcher.) Allows a county chairman of a political party to
appoint a watcher to each precinct in which the political party has a
candidate on the ballot if two or more candidates do not sign a written
statement to request a watcher.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Gaskill
January 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Elections.
January 14, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass.
SB 199—LS 6371/DI 149 January 15, 2025
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 199
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
elections.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 3-6-9-1 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
2 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. (a) If:
3 (1) twenty-six percent (26%) two (2) or more of all candidates of
4 a political party who are candidates for:
5 (A) nomination to elected offices at a county primary election
6 (or municipal primary election within the municipality in
7 which the municipal primary is to be conducted), not including
8 candidates for delegates to the state convention or candidates
9 for precinct committeemen; or
10 (B) precinct committeemen at an election for precinct
11 committeemen, whose names are certified to the county
12 election board as candidates to be voted for at the primary
13 election for precinct committeemen; or
14 (2) any candidate or group of candidates for a school board office;
15 desire to have watchers at the polls in any precinct of the county or
16 municipality, they shall sign a written statement indicating their desire
17 to name watchers.
SB 199—LS 6371/DI 149 2
1 (b) If the candidates signing the statement are candidates for
2 nomination at a county primary election or for election as precinct
3 committeemen or to a school board office, the written statement shall
4 be filed with the circuit court clerk of the county where the candidates
5 reside.
6 (c) If the candidates signing the statement are candidates for
7 nomination at a municipal primary election, the written statement shall
8 be filed with the circuit court clerk of the county that contains the
9 greatest percentage of the population of the election district.
10 SECTION 2. IC 3-6-9-1.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
11 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
12 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. If two (2) or more candidates of a political party
13 do not sign a written statement indicating their desire to have a
14 watcher under section 1 of this chapter, the county chairman of a
15 political party is entitled to appoint a watcher in each precinct in
16 which the political party has a candidate on the ballot.
SB 199—LS 6371/DI 149 3
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Elections, to which was
referred Senate Bill No. 199, has had the same under consideration and
begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with the
recommendation that said bill DO PASS.
(Reference is to SB 199 as introduced.)
GASKILL, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0
SB 199—LS 6371/DI 149