2011 Indiana Code
TITLE 3. ELECTIONS
ARTICLE 11. VOTING METHODS, SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT
CHAPTER 18.1. VOTE CENTERS

IC 3-11-18.1
Chapter 18.1. Vote Centers

IC 3-11-18.1-1
Application of chapter; pilot counties automatically redesignated
Sec. 1. (a) This chapter applies to a county designated as a vote center county under this chapter.
(b) On January 1, 2011, a county designated as a vote center pilot county under:
(1) IC 3-11-18 (before its expiration);
(2) P.L.164-2006, SECTION 148 (before its expiration); or
(3) P.L.108-2008, SECTION 4 (before its expiration);
is automatically redesignated as a vote center county under this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-2
"Active voter"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "active voter" means a voter who is not an inactive voter under IC 3-7-38.2.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-3
Designation of county as vote center county; adoption of vote center order and plan
Sec. 3. (a) A county must comply with this section to become a vote center county.
(b) As used in this section, "board" refers to any of the following:
(1) The county election board.
(2) The board of elections and registration established under IC 3-6-5.2 or IC 3-6-5.4.
(c) The board shall hold a public hearing to present a draft plan for administration of vote centers in the county.
(d) After presentation of the draft plan under subsection (c), the board shall accept written public comments on the draft plan.
(e) At least thirty (30) days after the hearing held under subsection (c), the board shall hold a public hearing to consider the following:
(1) The draft plan.
(2) The written public comments.
(3) Any other public comment that the board may permit on the draft plan.
(f) After consideration of the draft plan and the public comments, the board may do the following:
(1) Adopt an order approving the draft plan.
(2) Amend the draft plan and adopt an order approving the amended draft plan.
The board may adopt the order to approve a plan only by unanimous vote of the entire membership of the board.
(g) All members of the board must sign the order adopting the

plan.
(h) The order and the adopted plan must be filed with the election division and must include a copy of:
(1) a resolution adopted by the county executive; and
(2) a resolution adopted by the county fiscal body;
approving the designation of the county as a vote center county.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-4
Vote center plan; requirements
Sec. 4. The plan required by section 3 of this chapter must include at least the following:
(1) The total number of vote centers to be established.
(2) The location of each vote center.
(3) The effective date of the order.
(4) The following information according to the computerized list (as defined in IC 3-7-26.3-2) as of the date of the order:
(A) The total number of voters within the county.
(B) The number of active voters within the county.
(C) The number of inactive voters within the county.
(5) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2), a list of the precincts whose polls will be located at the vote center consistent with section 13 of this chapter.
(6) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2), the number of precinct election boards that will be appointed to administer an election at the vote center.
(7) For each precinct election board designated under subdivision (6), the number and name of each precinct the precinct election board will administer consistent with section 13 of this chapter.
(8) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2), the number and title of the precinct election officers who will be appointed to serve at the vote center.
(9) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2):
(A) the number and type of ballot variations that will be provided at the vote center; and
(B) whether these ballots will be:
(i) delivered to the vote center before the opening of the polls; or
(ii) printed on demand for a voter's use.
(10) A detailed description of any hardware, firmware, or software used:
(A) to create an electronic poll list for each precinct whose polls are to be located at a vote center; or
(B) to establish a secure electronic connection between the county election board and the precinct election officials administering a vote center.
(11) A description of the equipment and procedures to be used to ensure that information concerning a voter entered into any electronic poll list used by precinct election officers at a vote

center is immediately accessible to:
(A) the county election board; and
(B) the electronic poll lists used by precinct election officers at all other vote centers in the county.
(12) For each precinct designated under subdivision (5), the number of electronic poll lists to be provided for the precinct.
(13) The security and contingency plans to be implemented by the county to do all of the following:
(A) Prevent a disruption of the vote center process.
(B) Ensure that the election is properly conducted if a disruption occurs.
(C) Prevent access to an electronic poll list without the coordinated action of two (2) precinct election officers who are not members of the same political party.
(14) A certification that the vote center complies with the accessibility requirements applicable to polling places under IC 3-11-8.
(15) A sketch depicting the planned layout of the vote center, indicating the location of:
(A) equipment; and
(B) precinct election officers;
within the vote center.
(16) The total number and locations of satellite offices to be established under IC 3-11-10-26.3 at vote center locations designated under subdivision (2) to allow voters to cast absentee ballots in accordance with IC 3-11. However, a plan must provide for at least one (1) vote center to be established as a satellite office under IC 3-11-10-26.3 on the two (2) Saturdays immediately preceding an election day.
(17) The method and timing of providing voter data to persons who are entitled to receive the data under this title. Data shall be provided to all persons entitled to the data without unreasonable delay.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.225-2011, SEC.69.

IC 3-11-18.1-5
Use of vote centers
Sec. 5. A plan must provide a vote center for use by voters residing within the county for use in a primary election, general election, special election, municipal primary, or municipal election conducted on or after the effective date of the county election board's order.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-6
Number of vote centers required
Sec. 6. When the total number of active voters in the county equals at least twenty-five thousand (25,000), the following apply:
(1) The plan must provide for at least one (1) vote center for each ten thousand (10,000) active voters. (2) In addition to the vote centers designated in subdivision (1), the plan must provide for a vote center for any fraction of ten thousand (10,000) voters.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-7
Designation of vote center county; criteria
Sec. 7. Before adopting an order designating a county as a vote center county under this chapter, the county election board must determine the following:
(1) That the secure electronic connection as described under section 4(10)(B) of this chapter is sufficient to prevent:
(A) any voter from voting more than once; and
(B) unauthorized access by any person to:
(i) the electronic poll lists for a precinct whose polls are to be located at the vote center; or
(ii) the computerized list of voters of the county.
(2) That the planned design and location of the equipment and precinct officers will provide the most efficient access for:
(A) voters to enter the polls, cast their ballots, and leave the vote center; and
(B) precinct election officials, watchers, challengers, and pollbook holders to exercise their rights and perform their duties within the vote center.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-8
Effective date of designation; rescission of designation
Sec. 8. (a) The designation of a county as a vote center county takes effect immediately upon the filing of the order with the election division, unless otherwise specified by the county election board.
(b) The designation of a county as a vote center county remains in effect until the county election board, by unanimous vote of its entire membership:
(1) rescinds the order designating the county as a vote center county; and
(2) files a copy of the document rescinding the order with the election division.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-9
Notice of vote center locations
Sec. 9. The county executive shall publish notice of the location of each vote center in accordance with IC 3-11-8-3.2.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-10
Administration of election according to laws and plan
Sec. 10. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, the county shall administer an election conducted at a vote center in accordance

with federal law, this title, and the plan adopted with the county election board's order under section 3 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.225-2011, SEC.70.

IC 3-11-18.1-11
Casting absentee ballots at vote centers located at satellite offices
Sec. 11. Notwithstanding any other law, a voter who resides in a vote center county is entitled to cast an absentee ballot at a vote center located at a satellite office of the county election board established under IC 3-11-10-26.3 in the same manner and subject to the same restrictions applicable to a voter wishing to cast an absentee ballot before an absentee board located in the office of the circuit court clerk or board of elections and registration.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-12
Electronic poll lists at vote centers
Sec. 12. Notwithstanding any other law, the electronic poll list used at each vote center:
(1) must comply with IC 3-11-8-10.3;
(2) may include an electronic image of the signature of a voter taken from the voter's registration application, if available; and
(3) may be in a format approved by the secretary of state.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-13
Voter right to cast vote at any vote center in county
Sec. 13. Notwithstanding any other law, including IC 3-11-8-2 and IC 3-14-2-11, a voter who resides in a vote center county is entitled to cast a ballot at any vote center established in the county without regard to the precinct in which the voter resides.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-14
Separation of ballots at vote center by precinct
Sec. 14. The precinct election board administering an election at a vote center shall keep the ballots cast in each precinct separate from the ballots cast in any other precinct whose election is administered at the vote center, so that the votes cast for each candidate and on each public question in each of the precincts administered by the board may be determined and included on the statement required by IC 3-12-4-9.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3.

IC 3-11-18.1-15
Amendment of county vote center plan
Sec. 15. (a) A county may amend a plan adopted with a county election board's order under section 3 of this chapter.
(b) For a county to amend its plan:
(1) the county election board (or board of elections and

registration established under IC 3-6-5.2 or IC 3-6-5.4), by unanimous vote of the entire membership of the board, must approve the plan amendment;
(2) all members of the board must sign the amendment; and
(3) the amendment must be filed with the election division.
(c) A plan amendment takes effect immediately upon filing with the election division, unless otherwise specified by the county election board.
As added by P.L.1-2011, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.225-2011, SEC.71.