Indiana General Election 2026
Mirror Indy explains how voting works and shares what candidates are running for federal, state and local offices.
Politics might seem far away or out of touch sometimes. But people in office make decisions that affect our everyday lives. Our representatives in the U.S. Congress can help Indiana get federal funding for parks, road repairs and workforce development programs. Township trustees hand out resources to people who can’t afford housing, utilities or transportation.
Indiana’s Nov. 3 general election is your chance to decide which candidates will represent you in offices at the local, state and national level. Early voting starts Oct. 6, and you have to request a mail-in ballot by Oct. 22.
During this election season, we’ll share how voting works, who the candidates are and what elected officials actually do.
Mirror Indy Votes logo by Nat Russell for Mirror Indy
How to register to vote in Indiana’s Nov. 3 general election
The deadline is Oct. 5. You can register online, in person or by mail.
How to vote early in Indiana’s 2026 general election
Voting opens Oct. 6 in downtown Indianapolis and on Oct. 24 at eight other Marion County vote centers.
Deadlines
Oct. 5: Register to vote
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 5. Visit indianavoters.in.gov to check your registration. You can register in-person, online or by mail.
Get the full guide: How to register to vote
Oct. 6-Nov. 2: Early voting at the City-County Building
Early voting at the City-County Building starts Oct. 6 and ends at noon Nov. 2. Anyone registered to vote in Marion County can vote at the City-County Building. Bring a valid photo ID with you to vote.
Get the full guide: Your guide to early voting in Indianapolis
Oct. 22: Request absentee ballot
There are 12 valid reasons to ask for a ballot you can complete at home and drop off or mail in. You can find them listed on the downloadable application form. All absentee ballots have to be submitted by 6 p.m. on Oct. 22.
Get the full guide: How to vote absentee
Oct. 24-Nov. 1: Early voting at eight more vote centers
Eight vote centers across Marion County’s townships are open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, from Oct. 24-Nov. 1. Anyone registered to vote in Marion County can go to any of the sites to vote. Bring a valid photo ID with you to vote.
Get the full guide: Your guide to early voting in Indianapolis
Nov. 3: Election Day
The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 3. Find one near you.
How we are covering the 2026 General Election
Mirror Indy reporters sent surveys for our voter guide to every candidate running to represent Marion County in a contested race. Those are races where voters will have a choice between two or more candidates when they cast their ballots. We also sent surveys to judges who are on the ballot for retention. On a case by case basis, we interviewed candidates, voters and other members of the community for separate stories and social media posts based on our understanding of the needs or interests of Indy communities. We also wrote stories and social media posts focused on essential information for how to cast a ballot.
Use these buttons to find quickly find candidates and results in the races you’re watching.
National Races
The people elected to these offices represent us at the federal level, advocating for the people in their district. Their duties include drafting and passing federal laws.
U.S. House
6th District
7th District
State Races
The Indiana Secretary of State oversees elections, grants new businesses their
charters and maintains state records.
The Indiana Treasurer manages the state’s finances and assets. They invest public funds and distribute tax dollars to state and local governments and organizations.
The Indiana Comptroller pays the state’s bills, pays state employees and creates an annual financial report for the state. They distribute county, city, town and school tax dollars.
Indiana senators and representatives represent us at the state level. They write and vote on bills, which are drafts of possible laws.
Indiana Secretary of State
Indiana Comptroller
Indiana Treasurer
Indiana Senate
District 29
District 31
Indiana House of Representatives
District 86
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 93
District 97
County Races
The clerk collects money related to court cases and serves as the record keeper for the Circuit Court. They also serve as the secretary for the Marion County Election Board.
The prosecutor oversees an office that handles charging decisions in criminal cases.
The sheriff is law enforcement for Indianapolis and Marion County. Their offie oversees the jail, serves criminal warrants, protects county government buildings and maintains the sex offender registry.
Circuit Court Clerk
Prosecutor
Marion County Sheriff
Judge Retention
Marion County Superior Court judges oversee criminal cases, lawsuits, and custody, marital and probate matters.
Judges on the Indiana Court of Appeals issue rulings on legal questions related to cases that were decided in lower courts.
The Indiana Tax Court judge oversees legal cases related to Indiana tax laws.
Marion County Superior Court
Indiana Court of Appeals
Indiana Tax Court
Township Races
Trustees run assistance programs to help residents with rent, utilities and more needs. They manage township-owned property and create the annual township budget.
Constables are responsible for security in courts and serving official court orders to residents. Constables can make arrests and “keep the peace.” They can hire deputies to help carry out their duties.
Center Township
Constable of Small Claims Court
Decatur Township
Trustee
Franklin Township
Trustee
Perry Township
Trustee
Constable of Small Claims Court
Judge
Washington Township
Trustee
Wayne Township
Board of Trustees
Schools
School board members represent students, parents and taxpayers living in a school district. They hire and fire superintendents. They also approve district budgets and school curricula.
In Marion County, five school districts are pursuing a school tax referendum this year. Each school district can decide whether or not to pursue the tax increase to fund things like transportation to school, raises for teachers and other operational expenses. The actual amount taxpayers pay varies based on the value of their home or property — something called assessed value. Referendum rates are calculated based on every $100 of this assessed value.
Beech Grove Schools
School board candidates
Referendum
Beech Grove is marketing its tax referendum as a “replacement” referendum. That means the district already has a tax referendum in place and wants to continue collecting taxes at roughly the same amount for the next eight years.
- Last referendum asked: June 2020.
- How did the vote go? 61% voted yes.
- How much did taxes change? The district asked for 55 cents per $100 of assessed value.
- How long would a new referendum last? Eight years.
- Would taxes increase? Beech Grove is seeking 57 cents this time.
- How much money would this bring to schools? About $4.4 million a year.
- What will it be used for? School bus transportation, facilities upkeep and school safety.
- Learn more about Beech Grove’s referendum and how your tax bill might change here.
Decatur Township Schools
School board candidates
Referendum
Decatur Township is calling its tax referendum a “reduce and replace” referendum. District leaders are asking for a tax referendum rate this year that is lower than the current one. That means if the referendum passes, taxpayers could still pay less in coming years than they do today.
- Last referendum asked: May 2019.
- How did the vote go? 66% voted yes.
- How much did taxes change? The district asked for 28.9 cents per $100 of assessed value.
- How long would a new referendum last? Eight years.
- Would taxes increase? Decatur Township is seeking 26.9 cents this time.
- How much money would this bring to schools? $9 million a year at a maximum.
- What will it be used for? School bus transportation, utilities, school safety and building maintenance.
- Learn more about Decatur Township’s referendum and how your tax bill might change here.
Franklin Township Schools
School board candidates
Indianapolis Public Schools
School board candidates
Referendum
A recent change in state law created the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation and gave the group the authority to seek a tax referendum on behalf of Indianapolis Public Schools and nearby charter schools. IPS previously had this responsibility and has shared its tax referendum funds with charter schools in its network. This year, the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation is asking for an increase to the rate taxpayers are paying into the current IPS referendum.
- Last referendum asked*: November 2018.
- How did the vote go? 72% voted yes.
- How much did taxes change? 19.6 cents per $100 of assessed value.
- How long would a new referendum last? Four years.
- Would taxes increase? The corporation is seeking 37.2 cents this year.
- How much money would this bring? No more than $95 million a year.
- What will it be used for? Staff retention, professional development and academic programming, especially benefiting English language learners and students with disabilities.
- Learn more about the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation referendum and how your tax bill might change here.
- *IPS asked for a different type of tax referendum in 2023 to fund construction projects. That referendum passed with 59% approval.
Lawrence Township Schools
School board candidates
Perry Township Schools
School board candidates
Pike Township Schools
School board candidates
Warren Township Schools
School board candidates
Washington Township Schools
School board candidates
Referendum
Washington Township wants to “renew” its current referendum. That means the district is asking to continue its tax referendum at its current rate. If the referendum passes, taxpayers would see little change to what they currently pay.
- Last referendum asked: June 2020
- How did the vote go? 64% voted yes.
- How much did taxes change? The district asked for 25 cents per $100 of assessed value.
- How long would a new referendum last? Eight years.
- Would taxes increase? Washington Township is seeking 25 cents this time.
- How much money would this bring to schools? $24 million a year at a maximum
- What will it be used for? Recruiting and retaining teachers, school safety and operational costs.
- Learn more about Washington Township’s referendum and how your tax bill might change here.
Wayne Township Schools
School board candidates
Referendum
Wayne Township is asking for a higher referendum rate. The district has previously passed two tax referendums. One in May 2015 and another in May 2019. Those two referendums stacked for several years, meaning taxpayers paid a rate of 70 cents per $100 assessed value. When the 2015 referendum ended, taxpayers only paid 35 cents per $100 assessed value. Now, the district is seeking to move its referendum tax rate back to 70 cents.
- Last referendum asked: May 2019
- How did the vote go? 63% voted yes.
- How much did taxes change? 35 cents per $100 of assessed value.
- How long would a new referendum last? Eight years.
- Would taxes increase? Wayne Township is seeking no more than 70 cents this time.
- How much money would this bring to schools? Up to $41 million a year.
- What will it be used for? Recruiting and retaining teachers, school safety and operational costs.
- Learn more about Wayne Township’s referendum and how your tax bill might change here.
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The race for secretary of state is one of the Indiana’s most closely watched contests, featuring candidates representing four different political parties.
Indiana charter schools could receive over $49 million in new revenue from proposed tax increases
State law requires districts in four counties to share revenue from property tax increases approved by voters with charters enrolling students who live within those districts’ boundaries.
Indiana school district referendum guide 2026
What to know about your district’s requested tax increase.
How to vote by mail in Indiana’s 2026 general election
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What different potential tax increases would mean for Indianapolis schools and homeowners
Indianapolis voters could see a tax increase, known as a referendum, for schools on the ballot in November. But the details are still being decided by the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation.
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