Sec. 7. (a) An otherwise qualified person is eligible to serve as a precinct election officer unless any of the following apply:

(1) The person is unable to read, write, and speak the English language.

(2) The person has any property bet or wagered on the result of the election.

(3) The person is a candidate to be voted for at the election in the precinct, except as an unopposed candidate for a precinct committeeman or state convention delegate.

(4) The person 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 in that precinct. This subdivision disqualifies a person whose relationship to the candidate is the result of birth, marriage, or adoption. This subdivision does not disqualify a person from serving as a precinct election officer if the candidate to whom the person is related is an unopposed candidate. For purposes of this subdivision, an “unopposed candidate” includes an individual whose nomination to an office at a primary election is unopposed by any other candidate within the same political party.

(5) The person did not attend training required by section 40 of this chapter.

     (b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a), a person is not eligible to serve as an inspector if the person is the chairman or treasurer of the committee of a candidate whose name appears on the ballot.

     (c) The county election board may, upon the unanimous vote of the entire membership of the county election board, adopt a resolution to permit individuals who are:

(1) opposed candidates for precinct committeeman or state convention delegate; or

(2) related, as described in subsection (a)(4), to opposed candidates for precinct committeeman or state convention delegate;

notwithstanding subsection (a)(3) and (a)(4), to serve as a precinct election officer if the county election board finds that enough individuals are not available to serve as precinct election officers if the restrictions of those provisions are applied. A resolution adopted under this subsection expires December 31 of the year that the resolution is adopted.

[Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-1-5-1(c); 3-1-5-2(c); 3-1-5-8(b); 3-1-4-10(a) part, (b) part.]

As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.29; P.L.5-1989, SEC.8; P.L.4-1991, SEC.16; P.L.3-1993, SEC.18; P.L.11-1997, SEC.1; P.L.3-1997, SEC.40; P.L.199-2001, SEC.2; P.L.14-2004, SEC.9; P.L.227-2023, SEC.19.