# Ind. Code § 3-12-2-1: Chapter establishes standards to define vote; ballot counting procedures

> Indiana · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-1

## Section

- **Citation:** Ind. Code § 3-12-2-1
- **Heading:** Chapter establishes standards to define vote; ballot counting procedures
- **Jurisdiction:** Indiana
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Indiana Code / Title 3 / Article 12 / Chapter 2 / Section 3-12-2-1

## Text

Sec. 1. (a) This chapter:

(1) is enacted to comply with 52 U.S.C. 21081 by establishing uniform and nondiscriminatory standards to define what will be counted as a vote on a paper ballot; and

(2) applies to each precinct where voting is by paper ballot.

(b) After the polls have closed, each precinct election board shall count the paper ballot votes for each candidate for each office and on each public question. The ballots shall be counted by laying each ballot upon a table in the order in which it is taken from the ballot box.

(c) If a precinct election board administers more than one (1) precinct, the board shall keep the ballots cast in each precinct separate from ballots cast in any other precinct, 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.

[Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-1-18-3 part; 3-1-25-1(a) part.]

As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.339; P.L.10-1988, SEC.123; P.L.3-1995, SEC.119; P.L.209-2003, SEC.181; P.L.230-2005, SEC.56; P.L.128-2015, SEC.208; P.L.278-2019, SEC.141.

## Nearby sections

- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-1 Chapter establishes standards to define vote; ballot counting procedures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-1.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-2 Viewing of counting of votes by inspector and judge of opposite political party](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-2.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-3 Protest of ballot by member of precinct election board](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-3.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-4 Protest of ballot; duties of poll clerks](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-4.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-5 Vote count procedure where more than one precinct located in same room](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-5.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-6 Certificate and memorandum of votes cast](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-6.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-7 Delivery of certificates, list of voters, and tally papers upon vote tabulation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-7.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-7.5 Counting certain federal write-in absentee ballots](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-7.5.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-8 Inspector's duty after ballots have been counted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-8.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-9 Delivery of envelope or bag containing ballots to circuit court clerk; notification of number of ballots in bag and condition of seals of ballot packages](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-9.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-10 Oath of inspector upon delivery of envelope or bag; contents](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-10.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-11 Envelope or bag to be placed in receptacle having two locks; disposition of keys](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-11.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-12 Preservation of receptacle containing envelope or bag; contest of election; disposition of envelope or bag; use of ballots for election research](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-12.md)
- [Ind. Code § 3-12-2-13 Repealed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-13.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.