Sec. 12. (a) The town chairman and secretary of each town political party committee shall act as chairman and secretary of their respective conventions.
(b) As the first item of convention business, the town chairman shall make the initial determination regarding which individuals are eligible to vote in the town convention under section 11 of this chapter. If an individual objects to the determination of the chairman, the matter shall be put to the vote of all those individuals whose eligibility to vote is not in dispute.
(c) As the second item of convention business, the town chairman shall submit copies of proposed rules to the members of the convention for adoption. The rules must provide for at least the following:
(1) The voting method to be used for nominating candidates at the convention.
(2) The method to be used for resolving tie votes.
(3) Any method for removing candidates from consideration by the convention if no candidate receives a majority vote from all voters casting a ballot at the convention.
(4) The rights of nonvoting observers, media, candidate watchers, or others attending the convention.
(d) If the town chairman of the political party committee is unable or unwilling to act as chairman of the convention, the secretary acts as chairman until the convention elects a chairman of the convention from among the voters attending the convention. If the town secretary of the political party committee is unable or unwilling to act as secretary of the convention, the convention shall elect a secretary of the convention from among the voters attending the convention.
(e) After adoption of the convention rules, the convention may proceed to vote on the candidates to be nominated. The candidates for town offices must be nominated by a majority of the voters present and voting. If more than one (1) person may be elected to an at-large town council seat, the convention shall determine the total votes received by each candidate for an at-large town council seat. The candidates who receive the highest number of votes, up to the total number to be elected, are the nominees of the convention.
(f) The town convention may recess and reconvene if a majority of eligible voters at the convention adopt a motion to recess and reconvene. The motion must state the date, time, and location of the reconvening of the convention. However, a convention may not reconvene on a date following the final date permitted for a convention to be convened under section 10 of this chapter.
[Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-2-7.5-4(c).]
As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.10-1988, SEC.42; P.L.4-1991, SEC.40; P.L.3-1993, SEC.66; P.L.4-1996, SEC.29; P.L.230-2005, SEC.29; P.L.74-2017, SEC.27.
Structure Indiana Code
Chapter 5. Town Conventions and Major Political Party Nominations in Small Towns
3-8-5-1. Application of Chapter
3-8-5-2. Nomination of Candidates
3-8-5-10. Calling Town Conventions; Necessity; Purpose; Notice; Rescheduling
3-8-5-10.5. Declaration of Candidacy
3-8-5-11. Eligibility to Vote at Convention; List of Voters
3-8-5-13. Certificate of Nomination
3-8-5-14. Certificate of Nomination; Contents
3-8-5-14.3. Effect and Procedure Where Convention Not Required
3-8-5-14.5. Notice of Withdrawal
3-8-5-14.7. Validity of Documents
3-8-5-17. Nomination for Town Offices by Certain Political Parties