Senate Bill

SB 526

Absentee ballot retraction.

In plain English

Requires county election boards to test certain voting machines to make sure a rejected absentee ballot can be pulled back before it is counted. Requires voting systems approved for use in Indiana to meet certain federal voting system standards from February 10, 2021. Voids a March 25, 2022, advisory opinion by the Indiana election commission, and makes other changes.

Written by AI from the official digest below, and checked only by automated rules. If they differ, the official digest and bill text control.

Official digest

Requires a county election board to test certain voting machines to ensure that an absentee ballot can be retracted before tabulation of the ballot if the ballot is required to be rejected. Requires the public test of a voting system to test whether a rejected ballot is retracted. Voids a March 25, 2022, advisory opinion adopted by the Indiana election commission. Provides that, to be approved by the Indiana election commission for use in Indiana, a voting system must meet certain standards of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines adopted by the United States Election Assistance Commission on February 10, 2021. Allows a county to continue to use an optical scan ballot card voting system or an electronic voting system if certain matters concerning the voting system were approved before October 1, 2025. Allows a voting system to include a retraction feature concerning certain votes cast on absentee ballots.

Latest action: Public Law 212, May 6, 2025Full text and history at iga.in.gov

Authors and sponsors

Mike Gaskill, Stacey Donato, Tim Wesco

Roll-call votes

4 recorded votes, oldest first. Third-reading votes decide whether a bill passes a chamber; amendment votes and procedural motions are listed too.

Senate · Feb 20, 2025

Third reading: vote to pass

Roll call text: SB 526 - Gaskill - 3rd Reading

Passed

47 yes1 no2 did not vote

Republicans: 37 yes, 1 no, 1 did not voteDemocrats: 9 yes, 0 no, 1 did not voteNot matched to a current member: 1 yes, 0 no

How each member voted

House · Apr 1, 2025

Third reading: vote to pass

Roll call text: SB 526 - Wesco - 3rd Reading

Passed

90 yes0 no10 did not vote

Republicans: 63 yes, 0 no, 7 did not voteDemocrats: 25 yes, 0 no, 3 did not voteIndependents: 1 yes, 0 noNot matched to a current member: 1 yes, 0 no

How each member voted

Yes (90)

Did not vote (10)

Senate · Apr 24, 2025

Final vote: concurrence or conference report

Roll call text: SB 526 - Gaskill

Passed

40 yes10 no

Republicans: 39 yes, 0 noDemocrats: 0 yes, 10 noNot matched to a current member: 1 yes, 0 no

How each member voted

House · Apr 24, 2025

Final vote: concurrence or conference report

Roll call text: SB 526 - Wesco

Passed

65 yes26 no9 did not vote

Republicans: 64 yes, 0 no, 6 did not voteDemocrats: 0 yes, 25 no, 3 did not voteIndependents: 1 yes, 0 noNot matched to a current member: 0 yes, 1 no

How each member voted

Yes (65)

No (26)

Did not vote (9)

Source: Open States, compiled from the Indiana General Assembly's official roll calls. The official record at iga.in.gov controls. Spot an error? Let us know.