How to run in Indiana, 2028
What it takes to get on Indiana's 2028 ballot for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate or President, from the state's election office and laws.
U.S. House
Who can run
- At least 25 years old
- A U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
- Living in the state when elected (the Constitution doesn't require living in the district)
Getting on the Indiana ballot
| Where to file | Indiana Election Division (Indiana Election Commission), in person or by mail; filing occurs when the Division file-stamps the document. Fax and email are not accepted. |
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| When | Democratic and Republican candidates: 118 days through noon (ET) 88 days before the primary: January 5 - noon February 4, 2028, for the May 2, 2028 primary (first Tuesday after the first Monday in May). The 2026 guide's window (Jan 7 - noon Feb 6, 2026, for May 5, 2026) follows the same count. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Democratic and Republican candidates file a Declaration of Candidacy for Primary Election (CAN-2) with the Election Division; no petition is required for U.S. Representative. Party affiliation is shown by the candidate's last two Indiana primary votes, or by attaching a certification from the county party chair (IC 3-8-2-7). Libertarian Party candidates are nominated at the party's state convention and certified by the party, not by declaration. |
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| Fee | No filing fee is listed in the Election Division's candidate guide. |
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| Petition instead | Not required for Democratic or Republican candidates for U.S. Representative. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution
U.S. Senate
Who can run
- At least 30 years old
- A U.S. citizen for at least 9 years
- Living in the state when elected
Getting on the Indiana ballot
| Where to file | Petition signatures are first certified by the county voter registration office in each signer's county; the declaration of candidacy and certified petitions are then filed with the Indiana Election Division. |
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| When | Democratic and Republican candidates: declaration and certified petitions due to the Election Division by noon 88 days before the primary: noon February 4, 2028 (first filing day January 5, 2028), for the May 2, 2028 primary. Petitions must reach the counties earlier; in 2024 the county deadline was noon February 6, three days before the February 9 state deadline. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Democratic and Republican candidates file a Declaration of Candidacy (CAN-2) plus a Petition for Primary Ballot Placement (CAN-4) after county certification of signatures (IC 3-8-2-8). Libertarian Party candidates are nominated at the party's state convention. |
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| Fee | No filing fee is listed in the Election Division's materials. |
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| Petition instead | Democratic and Republican primary candidates: at least 500 certified signatures of registered voters from each of Indiana's nine congressional districts. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · Indiana's 2028 Senate race
President
Who can run: At least 35 years old; A natural-born U.S. citizen; A U.S. resident for at least 14 years (U.S. Constitution).
Getting on Indiana's presidential primary ballot
| How | Candidate filing (Democratic and Republican presidential preference vote). The candidate or a representative files a declaration of candidacy (form CAN-7) with the Indiana Election Division, accompanied by certified petitions for primary ballot placement (form CAN-8) (IC 3-8-3-1, 3-8-3-2). Petitions are first submitted to the county voter registration office in each county where signers are registered for certification, then filed with the Election Division (IC 3-8-3-3, 3-8-3-4). Filing occurs when the Election Division receives the original document; fax and email are not accepted. Libertarian Party presidential candidates are not on the primary ballot; that party's state chair and secretary certify its national convention nominees to the Election Division. The primary is held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May: May 2, 2028. |
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| Where | Petition certification: county voter registration offices. Declaration and certified petitions: Indiana Election Division, Indianapolis (in person or by mail). |
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| When | Petitions to county voter registration offices for certification from January 5 to noon (local time) January 25, 2028; declaration (CAN-7) and certified petitions to the Election Division from January 5 to noon (Eastern) February 4, 2028 (IC 3-8-3-4, 3-8-3-5). Computed from the 2024 guide's dates (118, 98 and 88 days before the May 7, 2024 primary) applied to the May 2, 2028 primary; confirm against the Election Division's 2028 Candidate Guide. Withdrawal deadline for presidential candidates in 2024 was noon February 22 (IC 3-8-3-7.5). (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None stated in the Candidate Guide. |
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| Petition | At least 4,500 registered voters of the state, including at least 500 registered voters from each of Indiana's 9 congressional districts (IC 3-8-3-2). Wet signatures only; each page needs a completed petition carrier affidavit. |
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Sources: 2024-Candidate Guide · Candidate information (in.gov)
Running as an independent in November
| How | File a petition of nomination (form CAN-19) and a written consent to become a candidate (form CAN-20) (IC 3-8-6-12, 3-8-6-14). Petitions are first submitted to the county voter registration office(s) where signers are registered for certification; the certified petitions and consent are then filed with the Election Division (the county may file them, or return them to the candidate to file) (IC 3-8-6-10). The presidential candidate may include the vice-presidential running mate on the same petition (IC 3-8-6-4). If an independent presidential candidate ceases to be a candidate, no substitute may be placed on the petition (IC 3-8-6-17(e)). |
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| Where | Petition certification: county voter registration offices. Certified petition and consent: Indiana Election Division. |
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| When | Petitions to county voter registration offices from January 5, 2028 through noon (local time) June 30, 2028 (a Friday); certified petitions and CAN-20 to the Election Division by noon (Eastern) July 15, 2028 (IC 3-8-6-10, 3-8-6-12). July 15, 2028 is a Saturday; in 2024 the guide moved a weekend deadline (June 30) to the next business day, so the Election Division deadline would likely be Monday, July 17, 2028; confirm in the 2028 Candidate Guide. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None stated in the Candidate Guide. |
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| Petition | Registered voters equal to 2% of the total votes cast for Secretary of State at the last general election (for 2028, the November 2026 Secretary of State election); fractions disregarded (IC 3-8-6-3). For 2024 the figure was 36,943 (2% of the 2022 vote). The 2028 number will be set once the 2026 results are certified. |
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| Also | The CAN-19 petition must include the name and address of each person pledged to be the candidate's presidential elector or alternate elector (space for up to 11 electors); the candidate signs the elector certification on one CAN-19 (IC 3-8-6-5, 3-10-4-5). So the running mate and elector slate are named on the petition. Rules are from the Election Division's 2024 (presidential-year) Candidate Guide; the Indiana Code site (iga.in.gov) did not render section text for automated reading. |
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Sources: 2024-Candidate Guide · Candidate information (in.gov)
Campaign money
- Once you raise or spend more than $5,000, file a Statement of Candidacy (FEC Form 2) within 15 days.
- Your campaign committee then files a Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1) within 10 days and reports to the FEC.
FEC: registering as a candidate · FEC campaign guides
Checked November 4, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with Indiana's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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