Civically, Indiana

Answering the how and why of Indiana's state government and elections.

Civically, Indiana is a project to help lower the barrier to entry for Hoosiers to engage with their state government and elections – so we're answering some of the how and why. And that includes building tools and resources, answering questions through reporting and explaining all the nuanced parts of the legislative session and elections.

Stories highlighted in green are tools and resources for navigating and participating in elections.

A person makes a selection on a voting machine.

Indiana's 2024 primary is May 7. What do I need on Election Day?

elections, election day, primary, voting, voter, vote, guide, how-to, ballot, candidates, voter id, research, unhoused, homeless, housing insecure, issues, policies, vote-by-mail, absentee ballot, mail-in ballot
A screenshot of a Zoom call with Julia Vaughn, a White woman with blonde hair, wearing glasses and a light blue top. Behind Vaughn are signs and posters with voter advocacy slogans on them.

Free election support hotline available to Indiana voters at 866-OUR-VOTE

Indiana, primary election, voter, voting, votes, vote, elections, May, help, helpline, hotline
A voter at a voting machine.

How does party affiliation affect Indiana's primary elections?

Indiana, primary election, voter, voting, votes, vote, elections, May, open, closed, primaries, party, party affiliation, political party, ballot, Republican, Democrat
A blue sign asks community members to support Franklin's future by voting yes. The sign has a yellow kite with a yellow string that ends in a check mark.

Four Indiana schools propose referendums. Most of the revenue to attract, retain staff

Informed voter, school referenda, school referendums, school funding, operations, construction, school safety, property taxes, Fremont, Blue River Valley, MSD Pike Township, Brown County
A screenshot a Google Map that has every Indiana school district and their history of school referenda.

What school referendums have passed since 2009?

Informed voter, tool, resource, help, guide, explainer, school referenda, school referendums, school funding, operations, construction, school safety, property taxes
A screenshot a calculator that allows users to estimate the increase to their property taxes if a school referendum were to pass.

How will school referendums affect my property taxes?

Informed voter, tool, resource, help, guide, explainer, school referenda, school referendums, school funding, operations, construction, school safety, property taxes
A screenshot the Election Day tip sheet. It is available as a PDF. If you're using a screen reader and it is not working, email lchapman@wfyi.org and I will personally send you the text of the document and fix that issue.

What do I need on Election Day to vote?

Ballot, research, candidates, voting records, help, how-to, guides, informed, tools, voting, election day, voter, first-time, first time, voter
Two screenshots from Zoom interviews with Valerie McCray and Marc Carmichael. McCray is a Black woman with black hair, wearing a blue jacket over a white top. Carmichael is a White man, balding with gray hair, wearing glasses and a navy blue jacket over a white and blue checkered shirt.

Both Democratic U.S. Senate candidates cite abortion rights as major impetus for their campaigns

U.S. Senate candidates, Senatorial candidates, Indiana, primary election, Dr. Valerie McCray, Marc Carmichael, Democratic, Democrats
A screenshot of a Zoom call with Jim Banks. Banks is a White man with dark and graying hair, wearing a vest that says Team Banks on the left chest over a collared shirt.

Banks wants to bring 'proven fiscal and social conservative track record' to U.S. Senate

U.S. Senate candidates, Senatorial candidates, Indiana, primary election, Jim Banks, Republicans, GOP
Jennifer McCormick is a White woman with blonde hair, wearing a dark jacket.

Jennifer McCormick says Indiana ready for something different after 20 years of GOP control

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Indiana, primary election, Jennifer McCormick, Democratic, Democrats
A collage of the six Republican candidates running in Indiana's 2024 gubernatorial primary. Clockwise from left: Brad Chambers, U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, former Attorney General Curtis Hill, Jamie Reitenour and Eric Doden.

GOP candidates seek to stand out in Indiana's first competitive gubernatorial primary in 20 years

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Republican, GOP, Indiana, primary election, Mike Braun, Curtis Hill, Jaime Reitenour, Suzanne Crouch, Brad Chambers, Eric Doden
A collage of the six Republican candidates for governor: Eric Doden, Brad Chambers, Mike Braun, Suzanne Crouch, Curtis Hill and Jamie Reitenour.

GOP governor candidates spend $35 million in most expensive primary in state history

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Republican, GOP, Indiana, primary election, Mike Braun, Curtis Hill, Jaime Reitenour, Suzanne Crouch, Brad Chambers, Eric Doden, campaign spending, campaign finance, political donations
A sign hanging on a lectern reads 'Protect Medicaid.'

Here's what Indiana's Republican gubernatorial candidates have to say about Medicaid

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Republican, GOP, Indiana, primary election, Mike Braun, Curtis Hill, Jaime Reitenour, Suzanne Crouch, Brad Chambers, Eric Doden, Medicaid, shortfall, attendant care, waivers, disabled, aged, at-home care, community-based, home-based, health care
A school bus.

Here's what Indiana's Republican gubernatorial candidates have to say about education

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Republican, GOP, Indiana, primary election, Mike Braun, Curtis Hill, Jaime Reitenour, Suzanne Crouch, Brad Chambers, Eric Doden, education, charter schools, private schools, public schools, school privatization, waivers, voucher program, school choice, educators, primary education, K-12, elementary school
A lawn sign reads 'For Rent'.

Here's what Indiana's Republican gubernatorial candidates have to say about housing

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Republican, GOP, Indiana, primary election, Mike Braun, Curtis Hill, Jaime Reitenour, Suzanne Crouch, Brad Chambers, Eric Doden, housing, affordable housing, renting, access, first-time homebuyers, home ownership, multi-family housing, single-family housing, home prices, regulations, property taxes
The outline of an ethanol plant at dusk. A large plume of smoke rises from one part of the plant.

Here's what Indiana's Republican gubernatorial candidates have to say about energy, environment

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Republican, GOP, Indiana, primary election, Mike Braun, Curtis Hill, Jaime Reitenour, Suzanne Crouch, Brad Chambers, Eric Doden, energy, environment, climate changes, climate isseues, reliability, renewable energy, carbon emissions, solar power, wind energy, agriculture, conservative energy solutions, energy transition, alternative energy, water resources, state water plan, sustainability
A sign propped up against a wall reads 'Keep Abortion' with the rest of the sign obscured. The bottom third says 'Legal'

Here's what Indiana's Republican gubernatorial candidates have to say about abortion

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Republican, GOP, Indiana, primary election, Mike Braun, Curtis Hill, Jaime Reitenour, Suzanne Crouch, Brad Chambers, Eric Doden, abortion, pro-life, pro-choice, anti-abortion, terminated pregnancies, maternal mortality, maternal health, pregnant people, adoption
A closeup of a person smoking a cannabis joint.

Here's what Indiana's Republican gubernatorial candidates have to say about cannabis

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Republican, GOP, Indiana, primary election, Mike Braun, Curtis Hill, Jaime Reitenour, Suzanne Crouch, Brad Chambers, Eric Doden, cannabis, marijuana, legalization, medicinal, decriminalization, medical, recreational, law enforcement, prohibition, mental illness
A roll of 'I voted' stickers set on top of a table.

These are the most common mistakes election boards see on mail-in ballot applications, at the polls

Statehouse, legislature, legislation, legislative session, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, conservatives, liberals, election, elected office, officials, representatives, senators, governor, executive government, mayor, vote-by-mail, mail-in ballot, VBM, ballots, absentee by mail, absentee voting
A banner that reads, 'An ID today is a vote tomorrow' on a blue background.

People without IDs face barriers for voting

Voting, voters, voter ID laws, voter identification, Project ID, photo ID, State Identification Card, military ID, student IDs
A screenshot the ballot tip sheet. It is available as a PDF. If you're using a screen reader and it is not working, email lchapman@wfyi.org and I will personally send you the text of the document and fix that issue.

How do I research candidates on my ballot?

Ballot, research, candidates, voting records, help, how-to, guides, informed, tools
A person feeds a ballot into the ballot return on Election Day.

Why doesn't Indiana have citizen-led ballot initiatives?

Legislature, ballot initiatives, citizen-led ballot initiatives, ballot measures, abortion, marijuana, Constitutional amendment
A sign posted in a glass door of a restaurant that reads, We are NOT Fully Staffed!

Why hasn't Indiana raised its minimum wage?

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, politics, political, minimum wage, wages, stagnation, cost-of-living, labor market, employment, employers, employees, fight for 15, $15, $7.25
The exterior of the Indiana Statehouse at night. The night sky is a purple navy color.

Why do incumbents have such a big advantage in elections?

Statehouse, legislature, legislation, legislative session, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, conservatives, liberals, election, elected office, officials, representatives, senators, governor, executive government, mayor
The exterior of the Indiana State Comptroller's office in the Indiana Statehouse. A plaque on the wall outside the double doors reads 'State Comptroller 240.' 240 is the room number.

How to pronounce comptroller, according to the Indiana state comptroller's office

Statehouse, executive government, comptroller, controller, auditor, name change, chief financial office, Indiana Comptroller of State
The exterior of the Indiana Statehouse as seen from the south entrance. Green trees flank the entrance.

What does it take to run for Indiana governor?

GOP, Republican, Democrat, Dems, governor, gubernatorial, election, politicians, qualifications, candidates, deadlines, congressional districts
A screenshot a tool that explains each position in Indiana's elected executive government.

What exactly is each position in Indiana's elected executive government responsible for?

Informed voter, tool, resource, help, guide, positions, officials, what do, explainer, county government, comptroller, auditor, treasurer, secretary of state, governor, lieutenant governor, lt. gov, attorney general, state government, elections, elected
The exterior of the Indiana Statehouse at night. The night sky is a dark black color.

Voter advocates say Hoosiers 'short-changed' by legislative resignations

Voting, voter, vote, election, legislature, representatives, senators, resignation, resign, caucus, cacused, GOP, Republican, Democrat, Dems
A screenshot a tool that explains each position in county government.

What do county officials do?

Informed voter, tool, resource, help, guide, positions, officials, what do, explainer, county government, clerk, sheriff, coroner, surveyor, recorder, auditor, treasurer, assessor, prosecutor, local government, local control, elections, elected
A 'For Rent' yard sign tilts precariously in a patch of grass it is placed in. An SUV is driving past the sign in the background.

What do township trustees do in their communities? What challenges do they face?

Township government, township trustees, local government, explainer, hyperlocal government, townships
A red and white 'Vote Here' sign with an arrow points to a polling place.

County clerk encourages Hoosier voters to turn out for May 7 primary

Ballot, research, candidates, voting records, help, how-to, guides, informed, tools, voting, election day, voter, first-time, first time, voter, primary voter
Jennifer McCormick speaks into a microphone on a lectern with Keith Gambill in the background. McCormick is a White woman with blonde hair, wearing a black jacket over a black shirt. Gambill is a White man, bald, wearing glasses and a blue suit.

Indiana teachers union's political committee endorses Jennifer McCormick for governor

Governor candidates, gubernatorial candidates, Indiana, primary election, Jennifer McCormick, Democratic, Democrats, education, teachers, educators, schools

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Indiana Public Broadcasting News is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that provides in-depth, long-term coverage of vital issues facing the citizens of Indiana. IPB News covers a range of topics across multiple reporting beats, including government and politics, health, environment and energy, labor and employment, and education. It distributes broadcast and digital stories to all the NPR and PBS stations in Indiana. IPB News is supported by grants from Lilly Endowment, Inc. and our station partners.