Indiana Independent Secretary of State Campaign Submits Over 52,000 Ballot Signatures Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Bal…
Indiana Independent Secretary of State Campaign Submits Over 52,000 Ballot Signatures Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard launched an independent bid for Indiana Secretary of State, filing over 52,000 signatures. Running under the newly formed “Lincoln Party” banner, Ballard aims to provide an alternative for independent voters in November, despite facing minor campaign finance fines and an active state police signature fraud investigation. greg ballard secretary of state indiana greg-ballard-indiana-secretary-of-state Greg Ballard, Indiana elections, Lincoln Party, Max Engling, independent candidates, ballot access, signature verification politics
Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard announced that his independent campaign for Indiana Secretary of State has submitted more than 52,000 signatures to secure a spot on the upcoming November ballot.
Key Highlights
- Former Republican Mayor Greg Ballard submitted 52,500 signatures to run as an independent under the “Lincoln Party” ticket.
- The campaign requires at least 37,000 validated signatures from county election officials to officially qualify for the November ballot.
- The Indiana State Police are actively investigating allegations of potentially fraudulent signatures submitted by a campaign volunteer.
- Ballard’s campaign was fined $450 by the Indiana Election Division for submitting two financial donation reports after the designated deadline.
As Indiana Republicans gathered on Saturday to select their official nominee, Ballard revealed his campaign had filed 52,500 signatures. He needs approximately 37,000 certified signatures from registered voters to become the fourth candidate in the autumn election.
Ballard, who previously served two terms as the Republican mayor of Indianapolis, dismissed the outcome of the major party conventions. He asserted that independent voters outnumber registered Republicans or Democrats in Indiana, promising them a genuine independent choice this November.
County election personnel must now review and verify that the collected signatures belong to properly registered voters across the state.
Should Ballard successfully qualify under his newly established “Lincoln Party” banner, he will challenge Republican nominee Max Engling, Democrat Beau Bayh, and Libertarian Lauri Shillings.
On Friday, the Ballard campaign acknowledged it must pay $450 in penalties to the Indiana Election Division. The fines stem from the late submission of two campaign contribution reports.
Concurrently, the Indiana State Police confirmed an active investigation into whether a Ballard campaign volunteer turned in fraudulent petition pages. Hamilton County Election Administrator Beth Sheller stated her team detected the suspect signatures between late May and early June.
Sheller reported that 9 out of 10 addresses listed on the suspicious document did not exist. The single valid address featured a name not registered to vote at that property, matching instead the identity of the signature gatherer.
According to Sheller, identical handwriting across the petition sheet prompted the fraud suspicion, leading officials to refer the matter to state law enforcement. Local prosecutors will ultimately determine whether to file formal criminal charges.
The Ballard campaign responded by emphasizing that state law requires county validation and forces circulators to legally attest to petition authenticity. Campaign officials stated they terminated their relationship with the individual immediately upon learning of the issue.
Future Outlook
Ballard established the Lincoln Party in March 2026 to secure long-term ballot access for future independent candidates. Under Indiana election law, if Ballard secures at least 2% of the total vote in the November general election, the Lincoln Party will achieve official party status. This threshold allows future candidates to clear ballot access without undergoing the extensive petition signature process. Ballard has also outlined specific policy goals, including the creation of a comprehensive, statewide voter guide to detail candidate positions.
FAQs
How many signatures does Greg Ballard need to get on the Indiana ballot?
The campaign submitted 52,500 signatures but requires at least 37,000 of them to be officially verified by county election staff to secure a position on the November ballot.
What is the Lincoln Party in Indiana?
The Lincoln Party is a political independent designation formed by Greg Ballard in March 2026. If Ballard wins 2% of the general election vote, the party secures automatic ballot placement for future candidates without petition requirements.
Why is the Indiana State Police investigating the Ballard campaign?
Authorities are investigating 10 potentially fraudulent signatures submitted in Hamilton County. Election staff discovered that nearly all the addresses listed on one petition page were fake or did not match registered voters.
What penalties did the Ballard campaign face from the Indiana Election Division?
The campaign was fined $450 for administrative infractions regarding the late filing of two mandatory donation reports.
