By Eddie Drews
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—The race for the U.S. Senate may be dominating most election coverage, but Hoosiers will have a proposed state constitutional amendment to consider as well as candidates for other federal and state offices when they vote Tuesday.
That constitutional amendment, which calls for a balanced budget, is either necessary for Indiana’s fiscal health or a waste of resources because the constitution already prohibits the state from going into debt.
The proposed balanced budget amendment—which calls for the state to spend no more money than it takes in—passed the Indiana General Assembly twice, in 2015 and 2017. .
Gov. Eric Holcomb, through his campaign committee, is encouraging a yes vote on the measure. It would take a two-thirds vote in both chambers to suspend the balanced budget requirement under the proposed amendment.
But Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, said the amendment is useless and will change nothing because lawmakers already pass balanced budgets. He said the amendment was created by Republicans to create an image that they are responsible and Democrats are not.
“It has no practical impact,†said DeLaney, adding “all it does is create confusion for the voters.â€
Also on the ballot this year are all nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, three statewide offices, all 100 seats in the Indiana House and 25 in the Senate, local two statewide judicial positions, local races for judges and prosecuting attorneys, plus numerous local offices ranging from school board to township trustee. Some local jurisdictions have ballot issues as well.
At the statewide level, Hoosiers have three options for secretary of state: incumbent Republican Connie Lawson, Democratic challenger Jim Harper and Libertarian challenger Mark Rutherford.
In the race for Treasurer are Republican incumbent Kelly Mitchell and Democratic challenger John Aguilera. And for Auditor, voters have three options as well with Republican incumbent Tera Klutz, Democratic challenger Joselyn Whitticker and Libertarian challenger John Schick.
Judge Robert Alice of the Indiana Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Slaughter face the voters in a yes or no judicial retention vote. Both were appointed by former Gov. Mike Pence.Â
Hoosiers can find their polling location, whether they are registered and other information about what’s on the ballot here.
Eddie Drews is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
