Civically, Indiana

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

This project will no longer be updated after December 2025. But the stories and resources will live on beyond that.

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 voter receives their identification from a poll worker during the 2024 primary.

You asked what do I need on Election Day? We've got answers

elections, election day, 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 voter's hand is about to press a button on a voting machine.

Indiana is one of only a few states that allows straight-ticket voting with just one mark on ballot

elections, election day, voting, voter, vote, guide, how-to, ballot, candidates, vote-by-mail, absentee ballot, mail-in ballot, straight-ticket voting, votes
A voting booth with a blue accessibility sign posted to the table.

How accessible is voting in Indiana? Advocate offers advice for Hoosiers with disabilities

elections, election day, voting, voter, vote, guide, access, accessibility, disabled, handicap, disability, disabilities, blind, deaf, mobility, assistance, accommodations, how-to, ballot, candidates, voter id, research, issues, policies, vote-by-mail, absentee ballot, mail-in ballot
A person feeds a paper ballot into a machine as an election worker is available to assist.

How do votes get counted? County clerks say Indiana elections are secure

elections, election day, voting, voter, vote, ballot, candidates, voter id, vote-by-mail, absentee ballot, mail-in ballot, count, election security, election officials, county clerks, poll workers
A partial image of a form providing notice and instructions to a voter who casts a provisional ballot.

How is a voter challenged at their polling place? And what happens next?

election security, secretary of state, provisional ballots, voter challenges, county election officials, county clerks, voting security, vote, election day, voter id
Two high school students check an ID.

Indiana students prepare to work the polls on Election Day through Hoosier Hall Pass program

Voting, elections, voters, political parties, party, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, ballots, poll workers, election workers, election volunteers, volunteering, early, election security, students, Hoosier Hall Pass, high schoolers
A South Bend Schools yard sign from its 2020 referenda. It reads South Bend, vote yes in black letters and directs people to a website.

Why do some schools need referendums? Expert says property tax caps complicate funding

Informed voter, tool, resource, help, guide, explainer, school referenda, school referendums, school funding, operations, construction, school safety, property taxes, Lake Station, Kokomo, Twin Lakes, STEM program, Spanish language classes, courses, budgets, budget cuts, tax caps, taxation
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 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
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 group of poll workers in Johnson County check people in during the 2024 primary election.

What's it like to volunteer as a poll worker for an election in Indiana?

Voting, elections, voters, political parties, party, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, ballots, poll workers, election workers, election volunteers, volunteering, early, election security
A side-on view of a person using a voting machine at a polling place. Only the person's arms, hands and midsection are visible, along with the machine, though its screen isn't readable.

Why do political polls sometimes show wildly different results?

Voting, elections, voters, political parties, party, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, ballots, election polls, political polls, polling, public polling
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 lauren.ellen.chapman@gmail.com and I will personally send you the text of the document and fix that issue.

How do I research candidates on my ballot? (Printable)

Ballot, research, candidates, voting records, help, how-to, guides, informed, tools
The form state party chairs must use to certify the names of the nominees for president and vice president.

How do major party presidential nominees get on Indiana's general election ballot?

Voting, elections, voters, political parties, party, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, ballots, delegates, state party conventions, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden
Former GOP Party Chair Kyle Hupfer is projected on a jumbotron at the 2020 state party convention in Indianapolis.

You asked what role state party conventions play in Indiana. We've got answers

Voting, elections, voters, political parties, party, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, primaries, primary, ballots, affiliation, membership, delegates, state party conventions
The Indiana Senate chamber, with no one in it.

What are the powers, duties of Indiana's lieutenant governor?

Statehouse, legislature, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, conservatives, liberals, lieutenant governor, powers, Senate
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 lauren.ellen.chapman@gmail.com and I will personally send you the text of the document and fix that issue.

What do I need on Election Day to vote? (Printable)

Ballot, research, candidates, voting records, help, how-to, guides, informed, tools, voting, election day, voter, first-time, first time, voter
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 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
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 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 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 '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

Indiana Public Broadcasting News was an independent, nonprofit newsroom that provided in-depth, long-term coverage of vital issues facing the citizens of Indiana. IPB News covered a range of topics across multiple reporting beats, including government and politics, health, environment and energy, labor and employment, and education.

It distributed broadcast and digital stories to all the NPR and PBS stations in Indiana. IPB News was supported by grants from Lilly Endowment, Inc. and our station partners until December 2025.