Greg Ballard proposes removing Indiana Secretary of State from politics

Independent candidate Greg Ballard has proposed legislation to remove political influence from the Indiana Secretary of State’s office. If elected, Ballard wants the Indiana General Assembly to pass laws barring the Secretary of State—who serves as the state’s chief elections officer—from endorsing candidates, fundraising for or donating to political parties, or holding leadership roles within a party.

Under the proposal, the officeholder would still be permitted to campaign for themselves, register to vote, and attend political events as long as they are not the headliner. Ballard also announced plans to establish a new political organization, the Lincoln Party, following the election.

Opponents have criticized the plan. A spokesperson for Republican candidate Max Engling accused Ballard of flip-flopping on his stance regarding candidate selection. Meanwhile, a campaign manager for Democrat Beah Bayh argued that being elected should not require an official to cease all political participation.