Committee advances technical bill to set uniform ballot order for school board contests

Chair Gaskell described a clerks' concern about inconsistent ballot presentation after last year's adoption of optional partisan school boards and asked Senator Byrne to present Senate Bill 25. Senator Byrne said the bill does not change who may run or how candidates qualify; rather, it groups candidates by designation and lists them in alphabetical order by surname within each group to remove ambiguity and ensure uniform presentation for voters.

Matthew Cochiever of the Indiana Election Division testified in support on behalf of co-director Angie Nussmeier, saying the measure will clarify how counties list school board offices beginning with the next filing cycle and will particularly help school corporations that cross county lines so candidates appear in the same order across counties. Cochiever noted edge cases involving minor-party or independent filings and said the election division would provide guidance to clerks.

Brad King, Republican co-director of the Indiana Election Division, added that the bill is effective upon passage to ensure clear rules in time for voting-system testing and the 2026 cycle; he also said that, where necessary, the bill provides that certain minor-party candidates will appear in the order their petitions were filed with the circuit court clerk.

Senator Goode asked for confirmation that the partisan option remains optional rather than mandatory, and committee members were told the bill does not add burdens for clerks but provides clarity. The committee moved and seconded the bill and, after roll call, advanced SB 25 by a unanimous 8-0 vote. Chair Gaskell adjourned the Senate Elections Committee.