Indianapolis, IN, July 29, 2026 —

Two candidates vying for an Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Board of School Commissioners seat in District 4 are facing scrutiny over their eligibility, with challenges raised concerning their primary voting history in light of a new Indiana law.

Lindsey Cornett and Chris Bultman, both candidates who filed to run as Democrats for the District 4 seat, have had their candidacies questioned. The challenges stem from confusion surrounding a recently enacted Indiana law that permits school board candidates to affiliate with a political party. This new legislation appears to have conflicting interpretations when juxtaposed with existing state election guidance, particularly regarding primary election participation.

The core of the eligibility questions lies in the candidates’ past primary voting records, which election officials are examining against the provisions of the new law. The specifics of how their past voting history interacts with the updated candidate filing requirements under the new law have led to the current challenges.

The Marion County Election Board has acknowledged the complexity of the situation and has opted to postpone a decision on the challenges. Board members are reportedly seeking further clarification on the application of the new state law to the candidates’ circumstances before making a ruling. The final determination of Cornett and Bultman’s eligibility remains pending.

The outcome of these challenges could have implications for the District 4 IPS Board race, as officials work to reconcile the new law with established election procedures. Further details on the specific voting history in question and the precise points of legal interpretation were not immediately available.



Story summarized from the original created by By Caroline Beck for WFYI on mirrorindy.org, see more information here.

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