The short version
Indiana nominates through party primaries in May. Major-party candidates file a Declaration of Candidacy to appear on the primary ballot; minor-party and independent candidates file by petition for the November general election.
- Offices you can run for
- Federal (U.S. House and Senate); statewide offices (Governor and other state officials); the Indiana Senate and House; and county, township, town, school-board, and judicial offices.
- How to get on the ballot
- File a Declaration of Candidacy (form CAN-2) during the filing window. Where you file depends on the office: congressional, state legislative, and judicial/prosecutor candidates file with the Secretary of State / Election Division, while most county, township, town, and school offices file with the county clerk where you live. Minor-party and independent candidates use a petition of nomination (CAN-19).
- Who runs candidate filing
- Indiana Secretary of State — Election Division
This is a plain-language overview, not legal advice. Filing deadlines and fees change every election cycle and vary by office — the official Indiana resources below are the final word. When in doubt, the elections authority is right and we're wrong.
Official Indiana candidate resources
Start here for the exact deadlines, fees, forms, and signature counts for your office and cycle.
Once you're on the ballot, Motion51 runs your field game.
Get your district's voter file loaded, cut into walkable turf, and onto an app your volunteers use at the door. Indiana is fully available — see how to get your voter file.
Talk to us about your Indiana race
Tell us what you're running for and we'll help you go from "qualified" to "knocking doors" — voter file loaded, turf cut, volunteers set up.