Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in sections 7 through 10 of this chapter, the county auditor shall pay the expenses of voter registration and for all election supplies, equipment, and expenses out of the county treasury in the manner provided by law. The county fiscal body shall make the necessary appropriations for these purposes.

     (b) The county executive shall pay to the circuit court clerk or board of registration the expenses of:

(1) removing voters from the registration record under IC 3-7-43, IC 3-7-45, or IC 3-7-46; and

(2) performing voter list maintenance programs under IC 3-7;

out of the county treasury without appropriation.

     (c) Registration expenses incurred by a circuit court clerk or board of registration for:

(1) the salaries of members of a board of registration appointed under IC 3-7-12-9;

(2) the salaries of chief clerks appointed under IC 3-7-12-17; and

(3) the salaries of assistants employed under IC 3-7-12-19;

may not be charged to a municipality. However, the municipality may be charged for wages of extra persons employed to provide additional assistance reasonably related to the municipal election.

     (d) A political subdivision that conducts or administers an election may not:

(1) accept private money donations; or

(2) receive funds or expend funds received;

from a person for preparing, administering, or conducting elections or employing individuals on a temporary basis for the purpose of preparing, administering, or conducting elections, including registering voters. This subsection does not prohibit a political subdivision from receiving or expending funds from the state or from the federal government to prepare for, administer, or conduct an election.

     (e) A political subdivision that conducts or administers an election may not join the membership of, or participate in a program offered by, a person who has directly financed:

(1) preparing, administrating, or conducting elections; or

(2) employing individuals on a temporary basis for the purpose of preparing, administering, or conducting elections, including registering voters.

For purposes of this subsection, a person does not include the local, state, or federal government.

[Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-1-4-5(d) part; 3-1-7-5(a); 3-1-5-16 part; 3-1-14-13; 3-1-23-14; 3-1-31-4; 3-2-7-4(a) part.]

As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.9-1987, SEC.1; P.L.15-1993, SEC.1; P.L.12-1995, SEC.8; P.L.4-1996, SEC.2; P.L.109-2021, SEC.5; P.L.87-2022, SEC.1; P.L.9-2024, SEC.14; P.L.65-2024, SEC.1.