1. (a) To be eligible to be a candidate for the governing body under this chapter, the following apply:

   1. (1) Each prospective candidate must file a petition of nomination with the board of elections and registration not earlier than one hundred four (104) days and not later than noon seventy-four (74) days before the general election at which the members are to be elected. The petition of nomination must include the following:

      1. (A) The name of the prospective candidate.
      2. (B) Whether the prospective candidate is a district candidate or an at-large candidate.
      3. (C) A certification that the prospective candidate meets the qualifications for candidacy imposed under this chapter.
      4. (D) The signatures of at least one hundred (100) registered voters residing in the school corporation.

   2. (2) Each prospective candidate for a district position must:

      1. (A) reside in the district; and
      2. (B) have resided in the district for at least the three (3) years immediately preceding the election.

   3. (3) Each prospective candidate for an at-large position must:

      1. (A) reside in the school corporation; and
      2. (B) have resided in the school corporation for at least the three
      3. (3) years immediately preceding the election.

      4. (4) Each prospective candidate (regardless of whether the candidate is a district candidate or an at-large candidate) must:

         1. (A) be a registered voter;
         2. (B) have been a registered voter for at least the three (3) years immediately preceding the election; and

         3. (C) be a high school graduate or have received a:

            1. (i) high school equivalency certificate; or
            2. (ii) state general educational development (GED) diploma under IC 20-20-6 (before its repeal) or IC 22-4.1-18 .

      5. (5) A prospective candidate may not:

         1. (A) hold any other elective or appointive office; or

         2. (B) have a pecuniary interest in any contract with the school corporation or its governing body;

            as prohibited by law.

2. (b) The following apply to a petition of nomination required under subsection (a)(1):

   1. (1) The petition must:

      1. (A) contain the information required under IC 3-8-2.5-2.5 (a)(5); and
      2. (B) be accompanied by the certification described in IC 3-8-2.5-2.5 (b), if required under IC 3-8-2.5-2.5 (c).
   2. (2) Unless a candidate that states a political party affiliation under IC 3-8-2.5-2.5 (a)(5)(A) is challenged under IC 3-8-2.5-7 , the candidate's statement under IC 3-8-2.5-2.5 (a)(5) must be indicated on the ballot in the manner determined by the board of elections and registration.

   3. (3) IC 3-8-2.5-2.5 (c) and IC 3-8-2.5-7 (e) through IC 3-8-2.5-7 (g) apply to a candidate who files a petition of nomination.

      [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-3-22-5.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.230-2005, SEC.81; P.L.7-2011, SEC.8; P.L.179-2011, SEC.27; P.L.6-2012, SEC.127; P.L.195-2025, SEC.29.