LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 7296 NOTE PREPARED: Jan 28, 2025
BILL NUMBER: SB 355 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Municipal Elections.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Gaskill BILL STATUS: CR Adopted - 1
st
House
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: Municipal Elections– The bill moves, as a general rule, elections of city and town
officers to even-numbered years. The bill allows a municipality to pass a resolution to opt out of the general
rule. The bill specifies a process by which the voters of the municipality may override the municipality's
resolution.
Time in the Voting Booth– The bill increases the amount of time that a voter may remain in the voting booth
at a primary, general, municipal, or special election, from four minutes to seven minutes. The bill makes
conforming amendments.
Effective Date: Upon passage.
Explanation of State Expenditures: The Election Division would likely need to update their publications
and possibly some election forms to conform with the bill’s requirements. It is likely the Division would be
able to make the necessary updates as a routine matter of business.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: Municipal Elections– Counties may need to place public questions
on future primary ballots if municipalities adopt resolutions under the bill. It is likely the public questions
could be added at minimal additional expense to the ballot costs of a primary election.
However, counties may see a reduction in election expenditures to run municipal elections in odd-years
versus a presidential or non-presidential even-numbered year election in future years. In the converse moving
the municipal offices to the even-year ballot would lengthen the ballot, which would increase ballot printing
costs. Those increases would likely not be significant.
Additional Information– Under current law, county election boards are required, with some exceptions, to
conduct a municipal primary and election. Unless a different agreement has been made, expenses from
county-operated municipal elections are reimbursed by the municipality to the county. If the expenses of a
SB 355 1 municipal primary or election cannot be directly attributed to a single municipality, the expenses are
apportioned 25% to the county and 75% to the municipalities in the county holding an election.
A 2023 survey conducted by the Association of Indiana Counties with 65 county respondents found that
precinct inspectors, judges, and clerks averaged per diems of $178, $142, and $136 respectfully for their
service on election day. Meal allowances ranged from $10 to $35.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Election Division.
Local Agencies Affected: County election boards.
Information Sources: Indiana Association of Counties, election poll worker survey, for the LSA, conducted
September and October 2023.
Fiscal Analyst: Chris Baker, 317-232-9851.
SB 355 2