Ind. Code ch. 3-6-8

in effect

Ind. Code § 3-6-8-1 Entitlement to appoint watcher

Sec. 1. (a) The state chairman and county chairman of each bona fide political party or an independent candidate for a federal or a state office are entitled to appoint watchers at each precinct in which the political party or independent candidate is on the ballot. (b) This subsection applies to a public question that is submitted to the electorate. A county election board may appoint watchers if a petition requesting the appointment is filed with the board. The petition must be signed by: (1) the chairman of a political action committee organized under IC 3-9 to support or oppose the approval of the public question; and (2) at least the number of voters equal to two percent (2%) of the votes cast in the last election for secretary of state in the county. (c) Except as provided in subsections (d), (e), and (f), at any time during election day, each political action committee, each political party, or an independent candidate for a federal or a state office may have only one (1) watcher present at each precinct's polls. (d) If both the state chairman and the county chairman of a political party have appointed watchers within the county, the political party may have two (2) watchers present at the polls of each precinct of the county or at each electronic poll book station at any time during election day. (e) If more than one (1) precinct votes at the same polling place, the number of watchers of each political party, an independent candidate for federal or state office, or each political action committee described in subsection (b) entitled to be present at the polling place equals the number of precincts voting at the polling place. (f) In a county designated as a vote center county under IC 3-11-18.1, the number of watchers of each political party, an independent candidate for federal or state office, or each political action committee described in subsection (b) entitled to be present at the vote center is one (1) watcher for: (1) each electronic poll book station present at the vote center; or (2) the number of electronic poll book stations specified in the county vote center plan for the vote center; whichever is greater. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-1-6-1 part; 3-1-6-2(b) part.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.5-1989, SEC.12; P.L.3-1993, SEC.24; P.L.3-1995, SEC.20; P.L.194-2013, SEC.7; P.L.74-2017, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 3-6-8-2 Eligibility of candidates

Sec. 2. A candidate to be voted for at an election, except as an unopposed candidate for precinct committeeman or state convention delegate, is not eligible to be appointed as a watcher at an election. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-1-6-1 part.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.4-1991, SEC.19.

Ind. Code § 3-6-8-2.5 Eligibility of watchers

Sec. 2.5. A watcher appointed under this chapter must be a registered voter of the county. As added by P.L.3-1997, SEC.47.

Ind. Code § 3-6-8-3 Identification card

Sec. 3. (a) A watcher present at the polls must possess an identification card issued under this section and present the card if demanded by a member of the precinct election board. (b) The county election board, state chairman, county chairman, or chairman of the committee of the independent candidate for a federal or a state office: (1) must appoint each watcher in writing; and (2) shall issue one (1) watcher identification card for each person appointed as a watcher. (c) The identification card must be signed by the chairman of the county election board, state chairman, county chairman of the party, or chairman of the committee of the independent candidate for a federal or a state office that the watcher represents. (d) The identification card described in subsection (a) must clearly state the following: (1) The status of the individual as an appointed watcher. (2) The name of the individual serving as a watcher. (3) The name of the person who appointed the individual as a watcher. (4) If the individual has been appointed as a watcher by a political party, the name of the political party. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-1-6-2(b) part.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.5-1989, SEC.13; P.L.7-1990, SEC.4; P.L.3-1993, SEC.25; P.L.3-1995, SEC.21; P.L.230-2005, SEC.20; P.L.194-2013, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 3-6-8-4 Powers and duties

Sec. 4. (a) A watcher appointed under this chapter is entitled to do the following: (1) Enter the polls at least thirty (30) minutes before the opening of the polls and remain there throughout election day until all tabulations have been completed. (2) Inspect the paper ballot boxes, ballot card voting system, or electronic voting system before votes have been cast. (3) Inspect the work being done by any precinct election officer (except when a precinct election officer enters a confidential login or password to obtain access to an electronic poll book or to operate a voting system). (4) Enter, leave, and reenter the polls at any time on election day. (5) Witness the calling and recording of the votes and any other proceedings of the precinct election officers in the performance of official duties. (6) Receive a summary of the vote prepared under IC 3-12-2-15, IC 3-12-3-2, IC 3-12-3-11, or IC 3-12-3.5-3, signed by the precinct election board, providing: (A) the names of all candidates of the political party whose primary election is being observed by the watcher and the number of votes cast for each candidate; (B) the names of all candidates at a general, municipal, or special election and the number of votes cast for each candidate; or (C) the vote cast for or against a public question. (7) Accompany the inspector and judge in delivering the tabulation and election returns to the county election board by the most direct route. (8) Be present when the inspector takes a receipt for the tabulation and election returns delivered to the county election board. (b) Subject to the restrictions under section 1 of this chapter, a watcher appointed under this chapter may enter, leave, and reenter multiple polling places at any time on election day. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-1-6-2(c)(1) part, (c)(2) part.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.38; P.L.3-1993, SEC.26; P.L.3-1997, SEC.48; P.L.221-2005, SEC.11; P.L.169-2015, SEC.11; P.L.209-2021, SEC.7; P.L.241-2025, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 3-6-8-5 Blank certificates for vote summaries

Sec. 5. The county election board shall provide blank certificates for the summaries required by section 4(a)(6) of this chapter. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-1-6-2(c)(1) part.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.241-2025, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 3-6-8-6 Report of violations; prohibition on objection; removal of watcher

Sec. 6. (a) A watcher appointed under this chapter shall report any violation of the election laws that comes to the watcher's attention to: (1) the inspector of the precinct; (2) the county election board; or (3) the prosecuting attorney. (b) A watcher may not object to any other precinct election officer concerning an alleged violation of election laws unless the watcher has the prior consent of the inspector. (c) Upon the unanimous vote of the entire membership of the county election board, a watcher who violates subsection (b) or engages in other disruptive action in the polls may: (1) be removed from the polls; and (2) have the watcher's credentials revoked. [Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-1-6-2(c)(2) part.] As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.209-2021, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 3-6-8-7 Watchers at satellite offices

Sec. 7. A political party may appoint up to two (2) watchers under this chapter for each satellite office established under IC 3-11-10-26.3. A watcher appointed under this section is entitled to: (1) enter, leave, and reenter the satellite office at any time the office is open; (2) inspect the voting systems before absentee ballots are received at the satellite office each day; (3) inspect the work being done by any elected official, absentee board member, or county employee at the satellite office (except when an individual enters a confidential login or password to obtain access to an electronic poll book or the statewide voter registration system or to operate a voting system used for absentee voting); and (4) witness any proceeding of the county election board or an absentee voting board at the satellite office. As added by P.L.169-2015, SEC.12.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/3Fetched: 10/17/2026