Sec. 22. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), each county election board shall appoint:
(1) absentee voter boards;
(2) teams of absentee ballot counters; and
(3) teams of couriers;
consisting of two (2) voters of the county, one (1) from each of the two (2) political parties that have appointed members on the county election board.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a county election board:
(1) may appoint, by a unanimous vote of the board's members, only one (1) absentee ballot courier if the person appointed is a voter of the county; and
(2) shall not appoint teams of couriers, if the county:
(A) has adopted an order to use an electronic poll book under IC 3-7-29-6(a)(1); or
(B) is a vote center county under IC 3-11-18.1.
(c) An otherwise qualified person is eligible to serve on an absentee voter board or as an absentee ballot counter or a courier unless the person:
(1) is unable to read, write, and speak the English language;
(2) has any property bet or wagered on the result of the election;
(3) is a candidate to be voted for at the election except as an unopposed candidate for a city office, town office, township office, school board office, precinct committeeman, or state convention delegate; or
(4) is the spouse, parent, father-in-law, mother-in-law, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of a candidate or declared write-in candidate to be voted for at the election except as an unopposed candidate. This subdivision disqualifies a person whose relationship to the candidate is the result of birth, marriage, or adoption.
(d) A person who is a candidate to be voted for at the election or who is related to a candidate in a manner that would result in disqualification under subsection (c) may, notwithstanding subsection (c), serve as a member of an absentee voter board if:
(1) the candidate is seeking nomination or election to an office in an election district that does not consist of the entire county; and
(2) the county election board restricts the duties of the person as an absentee voter board member to performing functions that could have no influence on the casting or counting of absentee ballots within the election district.
As added by P.L.3-1993, SEC.176 and P.L.19-1993, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.38-1999, SEC.54; P.L.176-1999, SEC.92; P.L.14-2000, SEC.6; P.L.14-2004, SEC.141; P.L.271-2013, SEC.31; P.L.76-2014, SEC.50; P.L.169-2015, SEC.142; P.L.109-2021, SEC.64.
Structure Indiana Code
Article 11.5. Counting Absentee Ballots
Chapter 4. General Procedures for Counties
3-11.5-4-1. Circuit Court Clerk Records and Certifications
3-11.5-4-2. Recast of Certain Ballots
3-11.5-4-3.5. Absentee Ballot of Voter Required to Present Additional Information; Procedure
3-11.5-4-4. Treatment of Ballot Found Without Genuine Signature
3-11.5-4-7. Acceptance of Posted Absentee Ballots
3-11.5-4-8. Applicability; Certification of Voter Names; Delivery of Certificates
3-11.5-4-10. Time for Receipt of Ballots; Treatment
3-11.5-4-11. Opening Absentee Ballots; Procedure; Signature Comparison
3-11.5-4-12.5. Opening Absentee Ballots by Machine
3-11.5-4-13. Rejection of Absentee Ballots
3-11.5-4-13.5. Absentee Ballot Signature Comparison; Procedure; Signature Verification Affidavit
3-11.5-4-14. Rejected Ballots; Endorsement; Processing and Return
3-11.5-4-15. Challenge of Absentee Ballot at Polls; Procedure
3-11.5-4-16. Absentee Voter's Application as Affidavit; Challenge Procedure
3-11.5-4-17. Absentee Ballot of Deceased Voter
3-11.5-4-18. Voting in Person by Absentee Voter Who Has Not Returned Absentee Ballot
3-11.5-4-20. Absentee Voter Wishing to Vote in Person After Poll List Is Marked
3-11.5-4-21. Voter Appearing in Person Who Has Cast Rejected Absentee Ballot
3-11.5-4-21.5. Rejected Absentee Ballots May Not Be Opened; Exception
3-11.5-4-23.5. Appointment of Absentee Ballot Counters and Couriers in Marion County