Petroleum, Indiana Public Records

Since Petroleum is an unincorporated community without municipal government, residents vote only in county, state, and federal elections - there are no town-specific mayoral or council races. Indiana residents can register to vote online at https://www. gov/sos/elections/voter-information/register-to-vote/ through the Indiana Secretary of State's website. Registration is also available in person at the Wells County Clerk's office, at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles when obtaining or renewing a driver's license, or by mail using a voter registration application. The state requires voters to be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by the next election, and residents of their precinct for at least 30 days before the election. Registration must be completed 29 days before any election. Indiana law requires voters to present photo identification at the polls. Acceptable IDs include Indiana driver's licenses, Indiana state ID cards, U.S. Passports, military IDs, and other government-issued photo IDs. The ID must display the voter's name, photo, and expiration date (and must be current or expired less than one year), and must be issued by the State of Indiana or the U.S. Government. Residents vote at their assigned precinct polling place, which can be located using the Indiana Voter Portal at https://indianavoters. gov/. By entering their name and date of birth, voters can confirm registration status, view their assigned polling location, see sample ballots for upcoming elections, and check their voting history. Polling places for Lancaster Township precincts may be located at local schools, fire stations, or community buildings in or near the area, and the Wells County Clerk's office can provide specific precinct assignments and polling place addresses. Numerous election records are public under Indiana state law. Voter registration lists are available to candidates, political parties, and the public for election related purposes, with requests processed through Wells County Clerk or Secretary of State's office. Campaign finance reports for candidates and political committees are filed with the Indiana Election Division and searchable at https://campaignfinance. gov/. Candidate filings, including declarations of candidacy and nominating petitions, are public records maintained by Wells County Clerk for local offices or the Secretary of State for state and federal offices. Election results by precinct, including vote totals for each candidate and ballot measure, are published by Wells County Clerk and Indiana Election Division following certification. The county historically trends Republican in state and federal elections, and 2024 results reflected this pattern with substantial support for Republican candidates. Indiana's Local voters will participate in electing their State Representative and, depending on the district's election cycle, possibly their State Senator. School board elections for Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District may also appear on the ballot, as Indiana school boards are elected in midterm general elections. Candidate filing for the May 2026 primary election typically opens in January 2026 and closes in February 2026, with nomination petitions required for many offices. Indiana offers several options for voters unable to vote in person on Election Day. Absentee voting by mail is available to any registered voter who applies. Applications can be downloaded from https://www. gov/sos/elections/voter-information/absentee-voting/ or obtained from the Wells County Clerk's office. Completed applications must be received by Wells County Clerk no later than 11:59 PM on the day before the election, though applying at least several weeks in advance is recommended to ensure time for ballot mailing and return. Voted absentee ballots must be received by Wells County Clerk by noon on Election Day; postmarks are not sufficient. Indiana also offers early in-person voting at the Wells County Clerk's office and possibly at satellite early voting locations beginning 28 days before the election and ending at noon the day before Election Day. Early voting hours vary but typically include some evening and weekend hours for voter convenience. Voters can track their absentee ballot status through the Indiana Voter Portal to confirm their ballot was received and counted. Military and overseas voters have special provisions under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) with extended deadlines, accessible through https://www.fvap.gov/.