§ 3-11-2-10 — Arrangement of ballot

(a) Public questions shall be placed on the
general election ballot in the following order after the statement
described in section 7 of this chapter, and the instructions described in
subsections (d) and (e) and section 8 of this chapter, if instructions are
printed on the ballot:
(1) Ratification of a state constitutional amendment.
(2) Local public questions.
Subject to section 10.1 of this chapter, each public question shall be
placed in a separate column on the ballot.
(b) The name or title of the political party shall be placed on the
general election ballot after the public questions described in
subsection (a). The device of the political party shall be placed
immediately under the name of the political party. Notwithstanding
section 8(b) of this chapter, the instructions for voting a straight party
ticket shall be placed to the right of the device on the ballot.
(c) The instructions for voting a straight party ticket must conform
as nearly as possible to the following:
"(1) You are not required to vote a straight party ticket. If you do
not wish to vote a straight party ticket, do not make a mark in this
section, and proceed to voting the ballot by office.
(2) To vote a straight (insert political party name) ticket for all
(insert political party name) candidates on this ballot, except for
candidates described in (3) below, make a voting mark on or in
this circle and do not make any other marks on this ballot.
(3) To vote for any candidate for:
(A) an at-large office (insert county council, city common
council, town council, or township board if those offices appear
on this ballot) to which more than one (1) person may be
elected; or
(B) a school board office;
you must make another voting mark for each candidate you wish
to vote for. Your straight party vote will not count as a vote for
any candidate for that office.
(4) If you wish to vote for a candidate seeking a nonpartisan office
or on a public question, you must make another voting mark on
the appropriate place on this ballot.".
(d) Except as permitted under section 8(b) of this chapter, if the
ballot contains an independent ticket described in section 6 of this
chapter and at least one (1) other independent candidate, the ballot
must also contain a statement that reads substantially as follows: "A
vote cast for an independent ticket will only be counted for the
candidates for President and Vice President or governor and lieutenant
governor comprising that independent ticket. This vote will NOT be
counted for any OTHER independent candidate appearing on the
ballot.".
(e) Except as permitted under section 8(b) of this chapter, the ballot
must also contain a statement that reads substantially as follows: "A
write-in vote will NOT be counted unless the vote is for a DECLARED
write-in candidate. To vote for a write-in candidate, you must make a
voting mark on or in the square to the left of the name you have written
in or your vote will not be counted.".
(f) Subject to section 10.1 of this chapter, the list of candidates of
the political party shall be placed immediately under the instructions
for voting a straight party ticket. The names of the candidates shall be
placed three-fourths (3/4) of an inch apart from center to center of the
name. The name of each candidate must have, immediately on its left,
a square three-eighths (3/8) of an inch on each side.
(g) The circuit court clerk may authorize the printing of ballots
containing a ballot variation code to ensure that the proper version of
a ballot is used within a precinct.
[Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-1-23-1(b) part.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.205; P.L.3-1993, SEC.117; P.L.4-1996, SEC.60; P.L.3-1997, SEC.258; P.L.14-2004, SEC.97; P.L.58-2005, SEC.15; P.L.190-2011, SEC.4; P.L.219-2013, SEC.30; P.L.21-2016, SEC.4; P.L.245-2017, SEC.2; P.L.278-2019, SEC.56; P.L.141-2020, SEC.11; P.L.32-2021, SEC.2; P.L.227-2023, SEC.66; P.L.195-2025, SEC.5.