If you’re walking around Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, or even a tiny spot like Nashville, Indiana, you might notice something weird about this year. The yard signs are missing. Usually, by now, you’d be tripping over "Vote for Smith" placards on every corner. But if you’re looking for what elections are coming up in indiana 2025, the honest answer is: not many.
Indiana is in a bit of a "quiet year."
Most of the time, we’re used to the relentless cycle of presidential years followed by midterms, with municipal races tucked into the odd years. But 2025 is a breather for most of the state. It’s a year for planning, for local parties to regroup, and for the Statehouse to mess with the calendar.
The Short Answer: Is There an Election?
Basically, no. Not for the whole state. There are no regular statewide primary or general elections scheduled for Indiana in 2025. You won't be voting for a Governor, a Senator, or even your local Mayor in a standard November cycle this year.
Most Hoosiers can keep their "I Voted" stickers from last year in the drawer for a bit.
But "no statewide election" doesn't mean "no voting at all." Indiana is famous for its hyper-local special elections. These usually pop up when a school district needs a levy passed or a local bond issue needs a thumbs-up from the taxpayers. For instance, residents in the Silver Creek School Corporation over in Clark County had a special election on the books for May 2025 regarding a school project.
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If you live in a spot where the school buildings are falling apart or the town needs a new sewer system, keep your eyes on the local paper. Those are the "stealth" elections that happen in years like 2025.
Why the Calendar is Changing (SB 355)
The big news regarding what elections are coming up in indiana 2025 actually has more to do with the future than right now. The Indiana General Assembly has been busy debating a massive shift in how we do things.
Earlier this year, lawmakers pushed forward Senate Bill 355.
It's a big deal. Essentially, the state wants to move municipal elections—those races for mayors, city councils, and town clerks—away from these odd-numbered years. Why? Money and turnout.
"Municipal elections usually see about 20% voter turnout," noted Kegan Prentice from the Secretary of State’s office during recent testimony. "In a presidential year, you’re spending less than 50 cents per voter to run the election, whereas in a municipal year, it can be $10 per voter."
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So, the plan is to eventually align local races with the big presidential or midterm years. If your town is under 10,000 people, you’re likely moving to even-numbered years by 2028. Cities have the option to "opt in" to this new schedule. This means the reason 2025 feels so empty is that the state is actively trying to kill off the "odd-year" election tradition to save cash.
Don't Forget the Special Elections
Since there isn't a massive statewide ballot, 2025 is the year of the Public Question.
These are usually referendums. If a school district wants to raise property taxes to pay for teachers or a new high school, they can’t just wait for 2026. They’ll trigger a special election. These are often held in May.
To find out if your specific precinct has one of these:
- Check the Indiana Voters Portal (indianavoters.in.gov).
- Call your County Clerk. Honestly, they’re usually bored in odd-numbered years and happy to help.
- Look for those "Vote Yes" or "Vote No" signs specifically about schools.
Preparing for the 2026 Surge
If 2025 is the nap, 2026 is the alarm clock. Because we don't have many elections coming up in indiana 2025, the political machine is already focused on next year.
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In May 2026, we’ll hit the ground running with the Primary Election. We're talking about U.S. House seats, the State Legislature, and a whole host of county offices. If you’re a candidate or someone who wants to work on a campaign, 2025 is actually your busiest year. This is when the fundraising happens. This is when the "listening tours" start.
If you aren't registered to vote yet, don't wait until 2026. You can register online right now. You just need a valid Indiana driver’s license or a state ID.
Key Deadlines to Keep in Mind
Even though the big dates are a way off, the rules are the same. You have to be registered at least 29 days before any election. If a surprise special election pops up in your town for September, you’ve gotta be on the rolls by August.
The next big "universal" deadline is April 6, 2026, for the spring primaries.
Actionable Steps for Hoosiers Today
Just because the ballot is thin doesn't mean you should disengage. Local government actually moves faster when nobody is looking.
- Verify your status: Go to the Indiana Voters website and make sure your address is current. If you moved house since the last big election, 2025 is the perfect time to fix it without the stress of a deadline.
- Monitor your School Board: This is the year school boards usually propose "controlled projects" that lead to those special election referendums. Attend a meeting. See what they’re planning.
- Check for Local Vacancies: Sometimes a local official resigns. In Indiana, these are often filled by a "party caucus" rather than a public election, but as a voter, you can still reach out to your local party chair to see who is being considered.
- Update your ID: Indiana has strict photo ID laws. If your license is expiring in 2025, get it renewed now so you aren't stuck in a long BMV line two days before the 2026 primary.
Stay sharp. The 2025 "election drought" in Indiana is just the calm before a very busy 2026.