Indiana Code

Ind. Code § 3-12-1-12 (2026)

Application to votes cast by any method; counting vote made invalid by mistake or inadvertence of election officer

✓ current as of May 2026
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     Sec. 12. (a) This section applies to votes cast by any method.

     (b) Except as provided in section 13 of this chapter, a ballot that has been marked and cast by a voter in compliance with this title but may otherwise not be counted solely as the result of the act or failure to act of an election officer may nevertheless be counted in a proceeding under IC 3-12-6, IC 3-12-8, or IC 3-12-11 unless evidence of fraud, tampering, or misconduct affecting the integrity of the ballot is presented by a party to the proceeding.

     (c) The act or failure to act by an election officer is not by itself evidence of fraud, tampering, or misconduct affecting the integrity of the ballot.

As added by P.L.7-1986, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.337; P.L.8-1992, SEC.29.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1992–2009 · leading case: Horseman v. Keller, 841 N.E.2d 164 (Ind. 2006).
Horseman v. Keller, 841 N.E.2d 164 (Ind. 2006). · cites it 11× “Indiana Code section 3-12-1-12 permits a recount for votes not counted due to clerical error (except in cases of fraud and the like).”
Mansfield v. McSHURLEY, 911 N.E.2d 581 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “Where an Election Day ballot lacks the necessary endorsements, however, the language of Indiana Code section 3-12-1-12(b) permits its inclusion in a subsequent recount.”
Hughes v. Brooks, 597 N.E.2d 998 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 4× “As set out in I.C. § 3-12-1-12, a ballot that has been properly marked and cast by a voter, which would otherwise not be counted solely because of an election officer's failure to act, may nevertheless be counted in a recount procedure unless a party to the proceeding presents…”
Sullivan v. Krughoff, 889 N.E.2d 1289 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “In addition, the exception contained in Indiana Code section 3-12-1-12 (2006), provides: (a) This section applies to votes cast by any method.”
— Ind. Code § 3-12-1-12(b) — 2 cases
Horseman v. Keller, 841 N.E.2d 164 (Ind. 2006). “Indiana Code section 3-12-1-12 permits a recount for votes not counted due to clerical error (except in cases of fraud and the like).”
Mansfield v. McSHURLEY, 911 N.E.2d 581 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). “Where an Election Day ballot lacks the necessary endorsements, however, the language of Indiana Code section 3-12-1-12(b) permits its inclusion in a subsequent recount.”
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