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Read. Follow. Verify.Indiana Senate Bill 211 allows cancellation of political caucuses when only one candidate files for a local vacancy
Last action · January 28, 2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Elections and ApportionmentSponsors: Travis Holdman and 4 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Allows a person who wishes to be a candidate for a pro tempore appointment to certain local offices or school board offices to file a declaration of candidacy with the chair of the caucus or the circuit court clerk. Requires a circuit court clerk to send a copy of a declaration of candidacy filed with the clerk to the chairman of the caucus on the same day the declaration of candidacy is received. Allows a notice of a caucus meeting to be rescinded if only one candidate seeks to fill a vacancy in a local office or a school board office held by a major party.
Local precinct committeemen and prospective candidates for vacant municipal or school board seats face altered filing and meeting procedures starting July 1, 2026, which eliminates mandatory gatherings when races are uncontested.
- Indiana law uses political party caucuses composed of precinct committeemen to fill mid-term vacancies in local elected offices and school boards. context
- Senate Bill 211 was introduced for the Second Regular Session of the 124th Indiana General Assembly. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
local office and school board candidates
Candidates may file declarations of candidacy with the circuit court clerk in addition to the caucus chair, and face uncontested appointment procedures.
circuit court clerks
Circuit court clerks must forward copies of any received declarations of candidacy to the caucus chairman on the same day they are received.
caucus members
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a candidate file a declaration of candidacy for a local office vacancy?
What happens if only one person applies to fill a local office vacancy?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the Senate · in House committee.
Procedural history
12 actions- Jan 28, 2026HouseIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Elections and Apportionment
- Jan 23, 2026SenateReferred to the House
- Jan 22, 2026SenateSenator Gaskill added as coauthor
- Jan 22, 2026SenateCosponsor: Representative Wesco
- Jan 22, 2026SenateHouse sponsor: Representative Lehman
- Jan 22, 2026SenateFloorThird reading: passed; Roll Call 56: yeas 35, nays 10
Show 6 earlier actions
- Jan 20, 2026SenateAmendment #1 (Gaskill) prevailed; voice vote
- Jan 20, 2026SenateFloorSecond reading: amended, ordered engrossed
- Jan 15, 2026SenateSenator Baldwin added as second author
- Jan 12, 2026SenateFloorCommittee report: amend do pass, adopted
- Jan 8, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Elections
- Jan 8, 2026SenateAuthored by Senator Holdman
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
iga.in.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 35)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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