Response to the Indiana Secretary of State partnering with Turning Point USA

Election Offices Must Remain Neutral

Voter registration should be run by neutral institutions, not political advocacy groups. The appearance of the Secretary of State partnering with organizations aligned with one political ideology risks undermining trust in our elections.

The Secretary of State serves as Indiana’s chief elections officer. That role carries a unique responsibility: maintaining public confidence that elections are administered fairly, professionally, and without partisan influence. Regardless of party affiliation, Hoosiers deserve to know that the system itself is neutral.

Civic groups across the political spectrum encourage people to vote. That is a healthy part of democracy, and organizations have every right to organize their own voter registration drives. But the elections office itself should remain above those efforts. The responsibility of the Secretary of State is to ensure the system is fair for everyone, regardless of party.

When the state’s top elections official partners directly with a political advocacy organization, it creates an appearance problem that should concern voters of every viewpoint. Even if the intent is outreach, the perception of favoritism can weaken confidence in the process.

The same principle applies to poll worker recruitment. Poll workers must be trusted by voters across the political spectrum. Recruitment efforts should emphasize professionalism, neutrality, and public confidence in the process.

Election administration works best when it is conducted above the day-to-day battles of politics. Hoosiers do not all vote the same way, but we should all expect the institutions responsible for running our elections to remain neutral.

Maintaining that trust should be the first responsibility of any Secretary of State.

-Lauri Shillings, Candidate for Indiana Secretary of State seeking the Libertarian Nomination