LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 7296 NOTE PREPARED: Feb 19, 2025
BILL NUMBER: SB 355 BILL AMENDED: Feb 19, 2025
SUBJECT: Municipal Elections.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Gaskill BILL STATUS: 2nd Reading - 1st House
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: (Amended) Municipal Elections– The bill moves, as a general rule, elections of
town officers to even-numbered years. The bill allows a town that has a population of more than 10,000 to
pass a resolution to opt out of the general rule. The bill allows a city to pass a resolution to opt into the
general rule.
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: (Revised) Municipal Elections– Town and city legislative bodies
would likely be able to adopt any resolutions under the bill within the normal conduct of city or town council
business.
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, city and town legislative bodies.
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