Getting involved in local politics this year can seem like a daunting task, but it may be easier than you think.
While you may not feel prepared to run for office, there are ways to get civically engaged without the heavy commitments that come with being an elected official.
In addition to local, state and federal offices that will appear on the ballot this year, Indy residents can apply for political positions within the Democratic and Republican parties.
The filing period for political candidates ends at noon Friday, Feb. 6.
Here’s what you need to know.
Running for precinct committee person
Precinct committee members, or “PCs” for short, operate at the grassroots level of politics. This is where many political newcomers get their start.
PCs are responsible for increasing voter turnout and informing neighbors about candidates and political events. In the event that there’s a vacancy in a public office or in party leadership, PCs will meet (caucus) to vote on their replacement.
This year, all 621 Democratic Party precinct committee members will be on the primary election ballot in May. Republican PCs are up for reelection in 2028.
Each precinct has a chair and a vice chair from each political party. Look up your voting precinct here.
Once you have your precinct number, you can reach out to the county party chair to find your current precinct representatives. (Myla Eldridge is chair of the Marion County Democratic Party. Natalie Goodwin is chair of the Marion County Republican Party.)
To submit your application, you must fill out a CAN-37 form to appear on the May primary ballot. Your forum must be signed by a public notary, unless you submit in person at the Marion County Clerk’s Office, in which case the office will notarize it at the time of your submission. Don’t sign the CAN-37 form until a notary has seen it.
Running for state convention delegate
In addition to applying to become a precinct chair, you can also submit an application to become a state convention delegate.
State delegates represent their neighborhood at their party’s state convention. In Marion County, there are 20 Republican delegates and 59 Democratic delegates who will appear on the ballot during this year’s May 5 primary election.
Delegates this year will be tasked with voting for who they want to represent their party in the November election in the following offices: secretary of state, state comptroller and state treasurer. Those positions won’t appear on the May primary ballot because they’re chosen at their party’s state convention.
The Democratic Party Convention will be Saturday, June 6, and the Republican Party Convention will be Saturday, June 20. These conventions provide an opportunity to connect with different party factions and learn more about candidates running for office.
You must file a separate CAN-37 form to run for state delegate. The same notarization and submission rules for PCs apply to delegates.
The Marion County Democratic Party is holding a precinct chair and state convention delegate training at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at IBEW Local 481, 1828 N. Meridian St.
Running for county or local office
There are several countywide offices on the ballot this year. For these positions, you’ll need to open a campaign finance committee. You can find more details in the Indiana Campaign Finance Manual or on the Indiana Election Division website.
The following positions will appear on the ballot this year:
- County Prosecutor
- County Clerk
- County Auditor
- County Recorder
- County Sheriff
- County Assessor
Click here for a comprehensive list of all offices that will appear on Marion County ballots.
Click here to download a list of all candidates who have filed for the 2026 primary election.
Other ways to get involved
If you don’t feel comfortable putting your name on a ballot, there are other ways to dip your toes into the pool of local politics.
Most townships have a local Democratic or Republican club that meets monthly. More information on Democratic clubs can be found here and Republican clubs here.
You can subscribe to the weekly Indy Dems Insider newsletter or the Indy GOP’s weekly newsletter.
You can also reach out to your local city-county councilor, state representative or state senator and ask them how you can help serve constituents in your district.
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Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.
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