# Ind. Code § 3-12-2-7.5: Counting certain federal write-in absentee ballots > Indiana · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-7.5 ## Section - **Citation:** Ind. Code § 3-12-2-7.5 - **Heading:** Counting certain federal write-in absentee ballots - **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 3-12-2-7.5 ## Text Sec. 7.5. (a) This section applies to the counting of federal write-in absentee ballots described in IC 3-11-4-12.5. (b) If a voter writes an abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation instead of the correct name of a candidate or political party, that vote shall be counted if the intent of the voter can be determined. (c) If a voter casts a ballot under this section for President or Vice President of the United States and writes in the name of a candidate or political party that has not: (1) certified a list of presidential electors and alternate presidential electors under IC 3-10-4-5; or (2) included a list of presidential electors and alternate presidential electors on the declaration for candidacy filed by a write-in candidate under IC 3-8-2-2.5; the vote for President or Vice President is void. The remaining votes on the ballot may be counted. (d) As required by 52 U.S.C. 20303(b), and except as provided in this section, an absentee ballot subject to this section shall be submitted and processed in the same manner provided by this title for a regular absentee ballot. (e) IC 3-12-1-7 applies to a ballot subject to this section. (f) As required by 52 U.S.C. 20303(b), a ballot subject to this section may not be counted if: (1) the ballot was submitted: (A) by an overseas voter who is not an absent uniformed services voter; and (B) from within the United States; (2) the overseas voter's application for a regular absentee ballot was received by the county election board after the applicable absentee ballot application deadline set forth in IC 3-11-4-3; (3) the voter's completed regular state absentee ballot was received by the county election board by the deadline for receiving absentee ballots under IC 3-11.5-4-10 or IC 3-12-1-17; or (4) the ballot subject to this section was not received by the county election board by the deadline for receiving absentee ballots under IC 3-11.5-4-10 or IC 3-12-1-17. (g) If a federal write-in absentee ballot is received by the county election board in an envelope that does not indicate that the envelope contains the ballot, and the envelope is opened by the county election board, the absentee ballot shall nevertheless be counted if otherwise valid. The county election board shall: (1) immediately seal the absentee ballot and the envelope in which the ballot was received in a carrier envelope indicating that a voted absentee ballot is enclosed; and (2) document the date the absentee ballot was sealed within the carrier envelope, attested to by the signature of each member of the county election board. As added by P.L.3-1987, SEC.343. Amended by P.L.10-1992, SEC.23; P.L.3-1993, SEC.180; P.L.198-2005, SEC.15; P.L.66-2010, SEC.30; P.L.219-2013, SEC.65; P.L.128-2015, SEC.209; P.L.201-2017, SEC.36; P.L.278-2019, SEC.142. ## 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) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IN_T3_A12_C2_S3-12-2-7.5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.