1. (a) A petition of nomination for a school board office must state all of the following:

   1. (1) The name of each candidate as:

      1. (A) the candidate wants the candidate's name to appear on the ballot; and

      2. (B) the candidate's name is permitted to appear on the ballot under IC 3-5-7 .

         The petition must specify, by a designation described in IC 3-5-7-5 , each designation that the candidate wants to use that is permitted by IC 3-5-7 .

   2. (2) The address of each candidate, including the mailing address, if different from the residence address of the candidate.
   3. (3) The school board office that each candidate seeks.
   4. (4) That each petitioner is a qualified registered voter and desires to be able to vote for the candidates listed on the petition.

   5. (5) One (1) of the following:

      1. (A) The candidate's political party affiliation.
      2. (B) That the candidate is an independent candidate.

      3. (C) That the candidate elects not to disclose any affiliation with a political party or that the candidate:

         1. (i) is not affiliated with a political party; and

         2. (ii) does not identify as an independent candidate.

            Unless a candidate who states a political party affiliation under clause (A) is challenged under section 7 of this chapter, the candidate's statement under this subdivision must be indicated on the ballot in the manner determined by the county election board.

2. (b) The petition of nomination must be accompanied by the following:

   1. (1) The candidate's written consent to become a candidate.

   2. (2) A statement that the candidate:

      1. (A) is aware of the provisions of IC 3-9 regarding campaign finance and the reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures; and
      2. (B) agrees to comply with the provisions of IC 3-9 referred to in clause (A).

   3. (3) A statement by the candidate that the candidate is aware of the requirement to file a campaign finance statement of organization under IC 3-9 after the first of either of the following occurs:

      1. (A) The candidate receives more than five hundred dollars ($500) in contributions.
      2. (B) The candidate makes more than five hundred dollars ($500) in expenditures.

   4. (4) A statement indicating whether or not each candidate:

      1. (A) has been a candidate for state, legislative, local, or school board office in a previous primary, municipal, special, or general election; and
      2. (B) has filed all reports required by IC 3-9-5-10 for all previous candidacies.
   5. (5) A statement that each candidate is legally qualified to hold the office that the candidate seeks, including any applicable residency requirements and restrictions on service due to a criminal conviction.
   6. (6) Any statement of economic interests required under IC 3-8-9 .
   7. (7) The certification of the county chairman, if required under subsection (c).

3. (c) If a candidate claims affiliation with a major political party under subsection (a)(5)(A), the candidate must have voted in the two (2) most recent primary elections in Indiana held by the party with which the candidate claims affiliation. The petition must provide a place for the candidate to affirm the candidate's primary election participation, if the candidate chooses affiliation with a major political party. If the candidate did not vote in the two (2) most recent primary elections in Indiana held by the party with which the candidate claims affiliation, the county chairman of:

   1. (1) the political party with which the candidate claims affiliation; and

   2. (2) the county in which the candidate resides;

      must certify in writing that the candidate is a member of the political party for the candidate's claimed affiliation to be valid. The petition of nomination must inform candidates how political party affiliation is determined under this subsection.

As added by P.L.194-2013, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.76-2014, SEC.18; P.L.169-2015, SEC.56; P.L.227-2023, SEC.40; P.L.195-2025, SEC.2.