Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 527
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 3-11-10-26.3.
Synopsis: Satellite offices for voting absentee. Specifies that if a
county adopts a resolution to authorize the circuit court clerk to
establish a satellite office for a voter to cast an absentee ballot, the
resolution must establish at least one satellite office for every 50,000
people that reside within the county.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Randolph Lonnie M
January 16, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Elections.
2025 IN 527—LS 6402/DI 149 Introduced
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.
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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. 527
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 3-11-10-26.3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.153-2024,
2 SECTION 15, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 26.3. (a) A county election board may adopt a
4 resolution to authorize the circuit court clerk to establish satellite
5 offices in the county where voters may cast absentee ballots before an
6 absentee voter board.
7 (b) To be adopted under this section, a resolution must be adopted
8 by the unanimous vote of the board's entire membership.
9 (c) A resolution adopted under this section must do the following:
10 (1) Establish at least one (1) satellite office for every fifty
11 thousand (50,000) people that reside within the county.
12 (1) (2) State the locations of the satellite offices.
13 (2) (3) State the hours at which absentee voting may occur at the
14 satellite offices.
15 (d) The resolution may contain other provisions the board considers
16 useful.
17 (e) If a resolution is adopted under this section for a primary
2025 IN 527—LS 6402/DI 149 2
1 election, the following apply:
2 (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2), the locations of the
3 satellite offices and the hours at which absentee voting may occur
4 at the satellite offices established for the primary election must be
5 used for the subsequent general or municipal election.
6 (2) The board may, by unanimous vote of the board's entire
7 membership, amend the resolution to modify, for the subsequent
8 general or municipal election:
9 (A) the locations of the satellite offices; and
10 (B) the hours at which absentee voting may occur at the
11 satellite offices.
12 A board in a county designated as a vote center county under
13 IC 3-11-18.1 that amends a resolution under subdivision (2) shall also
14 amend its plan under IC 3-11-18.1-15 to conform to the amendment.
15 The board may not amend the resolution to change the number of
16 satellite offices established under subsection (c)(1).
17 (f) If a resolution is adopted under this section, the procedure for
18 casting an absentee ballot at a satellite office must, except as provided
19 in this section, be substantially the same as the procedure for casting an
20 absentee ballot in the office of the circuit court clerk under section 26
21 of this chapter.
22 (g) A voter casting an absentee ballot under this section is entitled
23 to cast the voter's ballot in accordance with IC 3-11-9.
24 (h) A satellite office established by a circuit court clerk under this
25 section must comply with the polling place accessibility requirements
26 of IC 3-11-8.
27 (i) A resolution adopted under this section expires January 1 of the
28 year immediately after the year in which the resolution is adopted.
2025 IN 527—LS 6402/DI 149