Sec. 1. (a) Each political party or independent candidate may appoint challengers and pollbook holders for each precinct in which the political party or independent candidate is on the ballot.

     (b) This subsection applies to a public question that is submitted to the electorate. A county election board may appoint challengers and pollbook holders if a petition requesting the appointment is filed with the board. The petition must be signed by:

(1) the chairman of a political action committee organized under Ind. Code § 3-9 to support or oppose the approval of the public question; and

(2) at least the number of voters equal to two percent (2%) of the votes cast in the last election for secretary of state in the county.

     (c) A challenger must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

     (d) The county election board, county chairman, other local chairman of the party, or independent candidate:

(1) must make the appointments in writing; and

(2) shall issue one (1) identification card for each person appointed under this section.

     (e) Except as provided in subsections (f) and (g), each political party or independent candidate described in subsection (a) or a political action committee described in subsection (b) may have only one (1) challenger and one (1) pollbook holder present at each precinct’s polls at any time during election day.

     (f) If more than one (1) precinct votes at the same polling place, the number of challengers and pollbook holders of each political party or independent candidate described in subsection (a) or a political action committee described in subsection (b) entitled to be present at the polling place equals the number of precincts voting at the polling place.

     (g) In a county designated as a vote center county under Ind. Code § 3-11-18.1, the number of challengers and pollbook holders of each political party or independent candidate described in subsection (a) or a political action committee described in subsection (b) entitled to be present at the vote center is one (1) challenger and one (1) pollbook holder for:

(1) each electronic poll book station present at the vote center; or

(2) the number of electronic poll book stations specified in the county vote center plan for the vote center;

whichever is greater.

     (h) The challenger and pollbook holder present at the polls must possess an identification card issued under subsection (d).

     (i) The identification card issued under subsection (d) must clearly state the following:

(1) The status of the individual as an appointed challenger or pollbook holder.

(2) The name of the individual serving as a challenger or pollbook holder.

(3) The name of the person who appointed the individual as a challenger or pollbook holder, and whether the person is a political party, an independent candidate, or a county election board.

(4) If the challenger or pollbook holder has been appointed by a political party, the name of the political party.

[Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-1-5-8(e) part; 3-1-23-19 part.]

As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.5-1989, SEC.10; P.L.7-1990, SEC.3; P.L.3-1993, SEC.23; P.L.3-1995, SEC.19; P.L.230-2005, SEC.18; P.L.74-2017, SEC.10.