Election candidate filing begins this week

Those interested in shaping the future of Wayne County must soon decide if elected office might be the way they want to make a difference.

Candidate registration begins Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Indiana’s voter registration offices in county courthouses, and the deadline for many candidates to file for the 2026 election cycle is in early February.

Races on the ballot will include Wayne County’s voice in the state Senate and House of Representatives, sheriff, prosecutor, auditor, one county commissioner, four county council members and two judges.

The county’s 15 townships also seek trustees and board members, which can be an opportunity to gain local government experience.

Those running as Republicans or Democrats must submit paperwork by noon Friday, Feb. 6, to get into May’s primary election.

Those interested in being elected state convention delegates for the Republican or Democratic parties, or a Democratic Party precinct committeeperson, also need to file by noon Friday, Feb. 6.

In addition, Jan. 7 is the first date that independent or minority party candidates can file a petition of nomination for the November election for verification of petition signatures. Those candidates’ forms are due by noon June 30.

It’s also the first day for write-in candidates to file their declaration of intent to run in November. Their form is due by noon July 6.

The Libertarian Party must conduct a county convention to nominate candidates by noon July 3.

And, Dublin, Fountain City and Hagerstown town councils each will have two at-large seats available. The towns will have a primary if they have candidates that file for a political party.  

Meanwhile, potential school board candidates have a few more months to mull over their decisions for races on the November ballot. School board candidates don’t run in the primary. Their filing starts May 19 and ends June 18.

County government spends months coordinating elections. To begin planning, Wayne County Election Board conducted its first meeting of the year on Jan. 5.

In Wayne County, those interested in running for office, registering to vote for the first time, updating an address or other incorrect information on the voter rolls, or requesting an absentee ballot can visit the voter registration office inside the courthouse, 301 E. Main St., Richmond, call 765-973-9304 or go online at co.wayne.in.us/clerk/votersreg.html.

Hoosiers wanting to check their voter registration status can do so anytime at indianavoters.com. After signing in, voters can change outdated information if needed.

Key dates

Here are key dates for Indiana voters planning to register or cast ballots this spring:

• April 6: Voter registration deadline, by 4:30 p.m. in person at the Wayne County courthouse or 11:59 p.m. online.
• April 7–May 4: In-person absentee (early) voting is available at the Wayne County Courthouse, with weekday hours and two Saturdays (April 25 and May 2).
• April 16: First day that confined voters or their caregivers, or voters with disabilities, may vote absentee before a traveling board.
• April 23: Deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail. Voters must meet one of 12 qualifications including factors like age, disability, and lack of transportation. Note: United States Postal Service has announced that letters will be postmarked with the date they’re processed at a postal facility, not the date they’re dropped in a mailbox. Mail can be immediately postmarked by taking it into a post office and asking for that service during business hours.
• April 27–May 1: Additional early voting sites open in Cambridge City, Hagerstown and Richmond from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the First Bank Kuhlman Center will also be open 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. two Saturdays (April 25 and May 2).
• May 4: Noon deadline for confined voters or their caregivers to request traveling board ballot delivery.
• May 5: Primary Election Day, with polls open 6 a.m.-6 p.m. at eight locations countywide.

Updated Thursday, January 8 at 12:44 p.m. to add U.S. House of Representatives Sixth District to the list of offices that will appear on Wayne County ballots this year. The information that officials originally provided to WWN for this article was incomplete.