Run for local office in 2027
Your town is run by people who decided to run. It could be you. Indiana’s city and town elections are in 2027. Here are the official dates, the forms and the campaign finance rules, so you can decide early.
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All of Indiana
Source: Indiana Election Division, 2027 Indiana Election Calendar (brochure; reflects Indiana law as of August 2026). Dates checked against the brochure Oct. 24, 2026. Election law dates can change if the General Assembly changes them.
Four ways onto the ballot
Democratic or Republican
File a declaration of candidacy between Jan. 6 and noon Feb. 5, 2027, then win the May 4 primary (held in certain cities and towns).
Independent or minor party
Gather signatures on the CAN-44 petition, file it with your county voter registration office by noon June 30, then file your consent and the certified petition by noon July 15.
Towns under 3,500 people
In a small town that doesn’t hold a primary, parties can nominate at a town convention. Declarations for these are due by noon Aug. 2, 2027.
Declared write-in
File a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate; the first day is Jan. 6, 2027.
How many signatures? For 2026 petitions, the requirement was at least 2% of the votes cast for Secretary of State in the district at the last election for that office (2026 Candidate Guide). Ask your county voter registration office for the 2027 number for your city or town.
Key dates, 2027
- First day to file
Democratic or Republican candidates can file a declaration of candidacy for the municipal primary. Independent and minor-party candidates can start filing petitions of nomination with the county voter registration office for signature checks. Write-in candidates can file a declaration of intent.
- Campaign finance
Candidate committees, legislative caucus committees and PACs file 2026 annual campaign finance reports (by noon).
- Primary filing deadline
Democratic or Republican candidates must file a declaration of candidacy for the primary (by noon).
- Withdrawal deadline
Last day to withdraw from the municipal primary for any reason (by noon).
- Voter registration closes
Last day to register or transfer registration before the primary.
- Campaign finance
Pre-primary campaign finance reports are due for municipal primary candidates, including those unopposed (by noon).
- Primary election
Polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, in certain cities and towns.
- Independent and minor-party petitions
Independent or minor-party candidates must file petitions of nomination with the county voter registration office so the signatures can be checked (by noon).
- Petitions final
Independent or minor-party candidates file their consent and the verified petition (by noon). It is also the last day for any candidate to withdraw for any reason (by noon).
- Small-town conventions
In towns under 3,500 people, last day to file or withdraw a declaration for nomination by a town party convention (by noon).
- Voter registration closes
Last day to register or transfer registration before the municipal election.
- Campaign finance
Pre-election campaign finance reports are due (by noon).
- Municipal election
Polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.
- Campaign finance
Annual campaign finance reports for 2027 are due (by noon).
Source: Indiana Election Division, 2027 Indiana Election Calendar (brochure; reflects Indiana law as of August 2026). “Noon” means noon local time.
Paperwork and money rules
- Statement of economic interests
Local and school board candidates file the CAN-12. The Election Division and county clerk must reject a candidate filing that doesn’t include it (2026 Candidate Guide).
- Open a campaign committee
If the office pays more than $5,000 a year, you become a “candidate” for campaign finance purposes once you raise or spend more than $100, and you must file a CFA-1 statement of organization by noon 10 days later, or 7 days after the filing deadline if that comes first. The committee is required even if you don’t plan to raise or spend money; you would file $0 reports (2026 Campaign Finance Manual).
- Lower-paid local offices
For a local office paying less than $5,000 a year, the committee is required once you raise or spend more than $500 (2026 Campaign Finance Manual).
- Where to file
Candidates for local office file campaign finance documents and reports with the county election board (manual). Reports are public: see them in the state campaign finance search.
- If you lose a primary
Indiana’s “sore loser” law bars a person defeated at a primary, state convention or town convention from running for the same office in the next general or municipal election (2026 Candidate Guide).
As of Oct. 24, 2026, the Election Division’s candidate page has posted the 2027 calendar and the 2027 CAN-44 petition; most other candidate forms there are still the 2026 versions. Your county clerk or election board has the current forms. Questions: Indiana Election Division, 302 W. Washington St., Room E204, Indianapolis, (317) 232-3939.
Sources: Indiana Election Division, candidate information; Indiana Election Division, 2026 Candidate Guide; Indiana Election Division, 2026 Campaign Finance Manual (revised July 2026); CAN-44, Petition of Nomination for City or Town Office in 2027; CAN-12, Statement of Economic Interests for Local and School Board Offices.