IC 3-12-9
Chapter 9. Resolving Tie Votes
IC 3-12-9-1
Special election for tie vote; primary election
Sec. 1. (a) Whenever a tie vote at an election for:
(1) a federal office;
(2) a state office (other than governor and lieutenant governor);
or
(3) a legislative office;
occurs, a special election shall be held.
(b) Whenever a tie vote occurs at a primary election for the
nomination of a candidate to be voted for at the general or municipal
election, IC 3-13-1-17 applies.
As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.383;
P.L.1-2005, SEC.54; P.L.230-2005, SEC.59.
IC 3-12-9-2
Offices of governor and lieutenant governor; majority of state
senate and house of representatives meeting in joint session to elect
Sec. 2. Whenever a tie vote at an election for the offices of
governor and lieutenant governor occurs, a majority of the state
senate and house of representatives meeting in joint session shall
elect these officials from among the candidates receiving the tie vote
in accordance with Article 5, Section 5 of the Constitution of the
State of Indiana.
As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.8.
IC 3-12-9-3
Local, circuit, or school board office; written notice of tie vote to
fiscal body
Sec. 3. Whenever a circuit court clerk receives certification that
a tie vote at an election for a local office or a school board office
occurred, the clerk shall immediately send a written notice of the tie
vote to:
(1) the fiscal body of the affected political subdivision; or
(2) if the tie vote occurred in an election for a circuit office in
a circuit that includes more than one county, to the fiscal body
of each county of the circuit.
As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.230-2005, SEC.60.
IC 3-12-9-4
Local, circuit, or school board office; filling office
Sec. 4. (a) The fiscal body of a political subdivision that receives
notice under section 3 of this chapter shall resolve the tie vote by
electing a person to fill the office not later than December 31
following the election (or not later than June 30 following the
election of a school board member in May) at which the tie vote
occurred. The fiscal body shall select one (1) of the candidates who
was involved in the tie vote to fill the office.
(b) If a tie vote has occurred in an election for a circuit office in
a circuit that contains more than one (1) county, the fiscal bodies of
the counties shall meet in joint session at the county seat of the
county that contains the greatest percentage of population of the
circuit to select one (1) of the candidates who was involved in the tie
vote in order to fill the office in accordance with this section.
(c) If a tie vote has occurred for the election of more than one (1)
at-large seat on a legislative or fiscal body, the fiscal body shall
select the number of individuals necessary to fill each of the at-large
seats for which the tie vote occurred. However, a member of a fiscal
body who runs for reelection and is involved in a tie vote may not
cast a vote under this section.
(d) The executive of the political subdivision (other than a town
or a school corporation) may cast the deciding vote to break a tie
vote in a fiscal body acting under this section. The clerk-treasurer of
the town may cast the deciding vote to break a tie vote in a town
fiscal body acting under this section. A tie vote in the fiscal body of
a school corporation under this section shall be broken under
IC 20-23.
As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.10-1988, SEC.159;
P.L.14-2004, SEC.162; P.L.230-2005, SEC.61; P.L.164-2006,
SEC.127.
IC 3-12-9-5
State, local, or school board offices; official to remain in office until
successor is elected and qualified
Sec. 5. Whenever a tie vote at an election for:
(1) a state office;
(2) a local office; or
(3) a school board office;
occurs, the incumbent public official remains in office in accordance
with Article 15, Section 3 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana
until a successor is elected under this chapter and qualified.
As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.8.
IC 3-12-9-6
Filing of recount petition or contesting of nomination or election
Sec. 6. This chapter does not prohibit:
(1) a candidate from filing a recount petition under IC 3-12-6 or
IC 3-12-11;
(2) a candidate from contesting a nomination or election under
IC 3-12-8 or IC 3-12-11; or
(3) a petitioner from filing a recount petition under IC 3-12-12.
As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.384;
P.L.5-1988, SEC.15; P.L.10-1988, SEC.160.
IC 3-12-9-7
Tie vote on public question
Sec. 7. If a tie vote occurs on a public question, the question is
defeated.
As added by P.L.10-1988, SEC.161.