South Bend, Indiana Public Records

The clerk serves as administrator for the County Election Board and handles everything from voter registration records to absentee ballot processing, candidate certification, polling location management, and official election results for the city and entire county. Indiana residents can register to vote online through the Indiana Voter Registration Portal at indianavoters. gov, operated by the Indiana Secretary of State Elections Division. Registration requires an Indiana driver's license or state ID number, along with confirmation that the applicant is at least 18 years old by the next election, a U.S. Citizen, a resident of their precinct for at least 30 days, and not currently imprisoned for a criminal conviction. The deadline falls 29 days before any election, and the state does not permit same-day registration. Voters may also register using paper applications submitted by mail or in person at Stjoseph County Clerk's office, Bureau of Motor Vehicles locations, or designated voter registration agencies. Municipal elections for mayor and the nine-member Common Council—representing six districts and three at-large seats—take place in odd-numbered years. James Mueller won re-election in November 2023, and the next mayoral race is scheduled for November 2027. Municipal primaries occur in May of election years. While city elections are officially nonpartisan, candidates frequently maintain party affiliations. Details about candidates, local ballot questions, and municipal results are accessible through Stjoseph County Clerk's website and southbendin.gov. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters. gov by entering their name and date of birth or address. The system displays precinct assignments, polling locations with addresses, sample ballots, and elected representatives. The county maintains over 80 polling locations, with most city residents voting at schools, community centers, churches, and government buildings near their homes. Polls operate from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Election Day. Under Indiana law, voter registration lists qualify as public records available for purchase, though their use is restricted to political, governmental, and journalistic purposes. Campaign finance reports for local candidates must be filed with Stjoseph County Clerk's office and are available for public inspection. Statewide candidates file with the Indiana Election Division, and those reports can be searched at in.gov/sos/elections. Candidate filings, precinct-level results, and historical turnout data are maintained by the clerk and accessible through the elections website or upon request. During the November 2024 presidential election, the county recorded approximately 117,000 registered voters with roughly 68% turnout—approximately 80,000 ballots cast. The city generally leans Democratic while outer county areas tend Republican, making the county competitive in statewide contests. The November 3, 2026 general election will bring significant decisions for local voters. No U.S. Senate seat from Indiana appears on the ballot that year (the state's Senate seats are contested in 2028 and 2030). However, voters will decide numerous important races: all nine U.S. House seats from Indiana including the 2nd Congressional District, currently represented by Rudy Yakym; Indiana statewide offices including Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer (the governor's race waits until 2028); all 50 Indiana State Senate seats; all 100 Indiana House seats (the city spans multiple House districts); county council seats; county constitutional officers including assessor, auditor, treasurer, recorder, sheriff, coroner, and surveyor; plus various township offices and school board seats. Primary elections will occur in May 2026 to determine party nominees. Indiana offers absentee voting by mail for voters meeting specific criteria: those absent from the county on Election Day, individuals with disabilities, voters at least 65 years old, those with caregiving responsibilities, election officers, persons confined due to illness or injury, or those prevented by religious observance. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted to Stjoseph County Clerk's office by mail, fax, email, online at indianavoters. gov, or in person. The application deadline is 11 days before the election for mail requests or the day before Election Day for in-person applications at the clerk's office. The state also offers early in-person voting at the clerk's office and designated satellite locations beginning 28 days before Election Day. Voted absentee ballots must reach the clerk by noon on Election Day to be counted.