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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
Sec. 16. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), “candidate” means an individual who:
(1) has taken the action necessary to qualify under Indiana law for listing on the ballot at an election or to become a write-in candidate;
(2) has publicly announced or declared candidacy for an elected office; or
(3) otherwise seeks nomination for or election to an elected office, regardless of whether the individual wins election to the office.
(b) As used in IC 3-9, an individual becomes a “candidate” when the individual, the candidate's committee, or a person acting with the consent of the individual:
(1) receives more than one hundred dollars ($100) in contributions;
(2) makes more than one hundred dollars ($100) in expenditures;
(3) is required to file a written instrument designating a principal committee under IC 3-9-1-5.5 or IC 3-9-5-1;
(4) is subject to campaign contribution limits under IC 3-9-2;
(5) is subject to campaign expense restrictions under IC 3-9-3; or
(6) is subject to requirements for campaign communications including fabricated media under IC 3-9-8.
(c) As used in IC 3-13-1 and IC 3-13-2, “candidate” includes an individual filling a general or municipal election ballot vacancy under IC 3-13-1 or IC 3-13-2 when a county or town election board, the Indiana election commission, or a court has determined that the required action of:
(1) the individual; or
(2) another person under IC 3-13-1 or IC 3-13-2;
is void or invalid.
(d) As used in IC 3-14-3-18, “candidate” includes an individual described in IC 3-14-3-18(a).
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Indiana Code Title 3. Elections § 3-5-2.1-16 - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-3-elections/in-code-sect-3-5-2-1-16/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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