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Committee backs bill to require local referendums and public questions at general elections; school leaders warn of budget impacts

2663817 · March 17, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

House Bill 16-81 would require local public questions and state referendum questions to appear only on general election ballots. School district groups opposed the proposal, arguing it would disrupt budgeting cycles and could force midyear staffing or service disruptions.

Representative Wescow told the committee that House Bill 16-81 would require that local public questions and state referendum questions be placed on the ballot only during general elections, rather than in primaries or special elections.

"House Bill 16 81 would require that local public questions or state referendum questions be placed on the ballot only at general elections," Representative Wescow said, arguing general elections bring higher turnout.

Proponents including the Indiana Secretary of State's office said consolidating referendums to the general election would reduce the number of separate elections clerks must administer. Keegan Prentiss of the Secretary of State's office said scheduling referendums at general elections…

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