Fort Wayne, Indiana Public Records

Registration must occur at least 29 days before any election. State law requires voters to present valid government-issued photo ID at the polls, with acceptable forms including Indiana driver's licenses, Indiana state ID cards, U.S. Passports, military IDs, or tribal ID cards. Municipal elections for Mayor and City Council take place in odd-numbered years, with the next mayoral election scheduled for November 2027. The current mayor serves a four-year term, while the City Council comprises nine members: six district representatives and three at-large. City primary elections occur in May and general elections in November of those years. Sample ballots, candidate lists, and local ballot measures appear on the Allen County Election Board website and the city's official site at www.cityoffortwayne.org. Residents can look up assigned polling locations, view sample ballots, check registration status, and request absentee ballots through the Indiana Voters portal at www.indianavoters. gov by entering their name and date of birth. The state offers both in-person absentee voting, which begins 28 days before any election at the Election Board office, and mail-in absentee ballots for voters qualifying under specific circumstances. These include being 65 or older, having a disability, being scheduled to work entire poll hours, acting as a caregiver, being confined to home due to illness or injury, having a religious obligation, serving in the military, being a serious sex offender, or being a student or spouse living outside Allen County. Absentee ballot applications must reach the Election Board by 11:59 PM the day before the election for mail delivery, though voters can apply in person through noon on the day before the election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Allen County reported approximately 58-62% voter turnout with over 180,000 ballots cast out of roughly 290,000 registered voters, reflecting strong civic engagement. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters in the area will decide several critical races. Indiana's U.S. Senate seat (Class III) is not up in 2026, but one U.S. House seat representing Indiana's 3rd Congressional District, which covers Allen County and surrounding areas, will be contested. All 100 Indiana House of Representatives seats face election, including multiple districts within the city: Districts 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84. 25 of the 50 Indiana Senate seats (even-numbered districts in 2026) will appear on ballots. County-level offices include County Council members, County Assessor, and various township offices. The statewide positions of Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer will also be decided. Voters should consult the Allen County Election Board website closer to the election for specific candidates, local ballot measures, and any special referendums. Public election records in Indiana include voter registration lists available for purchase by qualified requestors, campaign finance reports searchable at www.indianacampaignfinance.com, candidate declarations of candidacy, precinct-level election results, and absentee voter lists. The Election Board provides historical results on their website, while the Indiana Secretary of State maintains statewide results at www. gov/sos/elections. All campaign finance disclosures for candidates, PACs, and committees are public record and searchable online through the Indiana Election Division.