Filing period opens for 2026 election candidates

The 2026 election season officially opens today in Indiana, with the start of candidate filing ahead of the May primary elections.

At the state level, all Indiana House seats are up for election this year, including the three representing parts of Bartholomew County. Also, Indiana State Senate seat 41 which serves parts of Bartholomew and Johnson counties is up for election.

Locally, Bartholomew County voters countywide will be electing the judge for Superior Court 2, County Commissioner in District 2, along with the county assessor, auditor, clerk, prosecutor, recorder, sheriff and treasurer. The County Council seats for District 1, 2, 3 and 4 are also up for election this year, although they are chosen by residents of their district.

Township trustees and members of township advisory boards are also up for election this year. In Bartholomew County, town council members will also be selected for Clifford, Edinburgh, Elizabethtown and Hope.

In Bartholomew County you can file to run for office in the voter registration office in the county courthouse. To file for office you will need to bring a valid photo ID and will need to fill out the candidate forms or bring them with you. Those are available on the county clerk’s website at bartholomew.in.gov

Candidate filing ends at noon on February 6th. The primary election is coming up May 5th and the fall general election will be Tuesday Nov. 3rd.