(a) A candidate for a town office may be nominated by a major political party using any of the following methods:
- (1) By convention conducted under this chapter.
- (2) By a primary election, if the town legislative body adopts an ordinance under subsection (d).
- (3) If a town convention or a primary election is not required under section 10 of this chapter for the political party of which the candidate is a member, by the candidate's declaration of candidacy.
- (b) Unless a town legislative body adopts an ordinance under subsection (d), a town shall use the convention method described in this chapter to nominate major political party candidates for town offices.
(c) A candidate may also be nominated for a town office by:
- (1) a declaration of write-in candidacy under IC 3-8-2-4 ;
- (2) a town convention of a political party described in section 17 of this chapter; or
- (3) a petition under IC 3-8-6 .
- (d) The town legislative body may adopt an ordinance not later than January 1 of the year in which a municipal election is held to establish a primary election for the nomination of major political party candidates. The town clerk-treasurer shall send a copy of the ordinance to the circuit court clerk of the county that contains the greatest percentage of the town's population.
(e) If a town described by section 1 of this chapter adopts an ordinance under subsection (d) to nominate major political party candidates by a primary election, the following apply:
- (1) The county election board of the county that contains the greatest percentage of the town's population shall conduct the primary election for the town.
- (2) All statutes governing primary elections for towns apply.
- (3) The town may not change the method of nominating candidates for town offices more than one (1) time in any twelve
(12) year period.
[Pre-1986 Recodification Citation: 3-2-7.5-2 part.]
As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.3-1993, SEC.63; P.L.167-2001, SEC.2; P.L.14-2004, SEC.57; P.L.74-2017, SEC.25.