INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WOWO) — Independent candidate for Indiana Secretary of State Greg Ballard is waiting for a judge’s decision in a lawsuit seeking to force the Indiana Election Commission to meet before Election Day.
Ballard, a former Indianapolis mayor, appeared in Marion Superior Court Friday, October 23, arguing the commission should address four pending campaign finance complaints involving Republican candidate Max Engling and Democratic candidate Bo Bye.
During an interview with WOWO’s Kayla Blakeslee Monday, Ballard said the commission has historically met in September during election years but did not schedule a meeting ahead of the November 3 election.
According to Ballard, the four pending complaints include one dating back to July. He said the commission’s two Democratic members want to meet, while its two Republican members oppose doing so.
Ballard argued the dispute is about following established procedures, rather than the outcomes of the complaints themselves.
“We’re just asking for normal procedure,” Ballard said. “We’re asking for what they’ve done in the past.”
The state argued in court that Ballard’s lawsuit is an attempt to influence the election. Ballard rejected that characterization, accusing the commission of politicizing the process and saying the lack of a meeting raises questions about whether the two major parties are being protected.
Those are Ballard’s allegations; the claims have not been independently verified by WOWO.
Ballard Calls for Election Commission Reform
Ballard said the commission was not scheduled to meet until November 20, after the election. He argued that holding a meeting after voters have cast their ballots would not meaningfully address the pending complaints before Election Day.
A judge was expected to issue a ruling Monday. Ballard said that if the decision goes against him, his campaign will consider whether to appeal.
He also called for changes to the way Indiana handles election disputes, proposing that the recount commission be made up of five retired judges and that the Election Commission use administrative law judges instead of political appointees.
“The political appointee portion of all of this is just not serving voters well,” Ballard said.
Ballard said he hopes state lawmakers will review the election process and consider reforms.
Ballard Explains Independent and Lincoln Party Labels
During the interview, Blakeslee also asked Ballard to clarify why he has been described as both an independent candidate and a Lincoln Party candidate.
Ballard said Indiana’s ballot-access requirements make it difficult for independent candidates to run for office. He said he gathered more than 36,943 signatures and spent more than $800,000 to qualify for the ballot.
He said his campaign intends to form a political party for independents if he receives at least 2% of the vote in the Secretary of State’s race, citing Indiana law.
Ballard said the goal would be to make it easier for future independent candidates to appear on the ballot without repeating the same signature-gathering process.
He also criticized Indiana’s political system, arguing that competitive general elections have become less common and that primary elections give a relatively small share of voters significant influence over who ultimately holds office.
Ballard Makes Final Appeal to Hoosier Voters
With Election Day approaching, Ballard urged voters who are dissatisfied with partisan politics to consider his candidacy.
He pointed to his time as Indianapolis mayor and his 23 years in the Marine Corps, saying his experience would help him bring changes to state government.
“If you’re tired of the toxicity and the partisanship that are really affecting our politics, and you want more voter choice, there’s really one way to go, and that’s to vote for me,” Ballard said.
Indiana voters will choose their next Secretary of State on November 3.
