Every election is important. By voting your values, Hoosiers will have the opportunity to shape our state and country’s future this November.
Your vote will have a direct impact on who makes important decisions for you and your community. Up and down the ballot, Indiana voters will have the power to hold local leaders accountable and influence policy at every level of government.
In addition to races like legislative seats, there are numerous lesser-known elected offices up for election. Let's break down some of these offices you may see on your ballot, so you can better understand how these officials wield the power to protect civil liberties and civil rights.
- Secretary of State: The Indiana Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing and administering elections. They can expand voting access through direct measures like automatic registration and advocate for future legislation that expands access.
- County Prosecutors: Every County Prosecutor is up for election this year in Indiana. County prosecutors have the power to decide who should be charged with a crime. They have the power to flood jails and prisons and deepen racial disparities with the stroke of a pen — they also have the discretion to do the opposite. To make change, they can:
- Use their legal discretion to reduce mass incarceration and racial disparities in the criminal legal system
- Not bring charges against people accused of violating unjust laws like low-level marijuana offenses
- Decline to prosecute crimes related to HIV status and sex work, which disproportionately affect LGBTQ people
- County Clerks: The County Clerk runs the day-to-day operations of registration and voting. They can be responsible for training election officials, county election results, and mailing absentee ballots.
- School Boards: School board representatives can pass important policies to protect LGBTQ students from harassment, discrimination, and bullying. They can also fight back against book bans and attempts to restrict conversations about race, sexual orientation, and gender in the classroom.
Being an informed voter is one of the most impactful ways you can protect your rights. To view your specific sample ballot, visit IndianaVoters.com.
Voters have the power to send a message to elected officials about what they want prioritized. Your vote will reflect the values you want to see in the community and country.
Exercise your right to vote on November 8.
