Ballard asks Braun to order election commission meetingCatch up on local and breaking news, weather and the stories developing across central Indiana. INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Secretary of State candidate Greg Ballard has called upon Gov. Mike Braun to compel the Indiana Election Commission to me et ahead of the November election. Ballard hand-delivered the letter to Braun on Monday. It comes less than 24 hours after a judge denied Ballard’s request in Marion County court to force the commission to settle open finance complaints against candidates Beau Bayh and Max Engling. Four campaign finance complaints are currently pending before the commission. Two concern a $60,000 donation from a political action committee called Hoosier Leadership for America to Republican Max Engling’s campaign. A filing by David Shelton, the Knox County clerk and one of the candidates Engling defeated at the Indiana Republican Party convention in June, says the donation violates the $5,000 corporate contribution limit. The other two complaints involve Democrat Beau Bayh. Those complaints claim materials and social media posts advertising Bayh’s appearances at party functions going back to 2025 amounted to an in-kind contribution that was not reported. Ballard, an independent running under the Lincoln Party label, said the commission historically has met every September to review any business before it. He said the lack of a meeting so far is a political decision that puts the interests of the Republican and Democratic parties over those of voters. In his letter, Ballard writes: “I feel strongly that the Election Commission has chosen an unfair course of action to protect the two major parties and to maintain their dominance. That said, you have the power to compel the commission to meet.” See Ballard’s letter below. SecState – Governor Letter for Election Commission.docxDownload Ballard says his campaign is considering its “appellate options” in the lawsuit. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Ballard said he believed the judge’s ruling allowed the commission to “get away with” its decision not to meet. He said he does not care how the commission rules on the campaign finance allegations, only that the commission meets to act on them. All three of Ballard’s rivals now say they support having the commission meet before Election Day. Shortly after voting early Tuesday morning, Democrat Beau Bayh said the commission has a responsibility to resolve outstanding complaints before voters head to the polls. “I wish that the Election Commission would meet to hear these cases prior to Election Day,” he said. “I think that it’s the responsibility of that commission to meet, to fully handle these complaints before it so that candidates are fully informed about this choice.” Republican Max Engling and Libertarian Lauri Shillings both released statements saying they also support the idea. “We welcome the Election Commission meeting before the election to consider all four complaints and regarding multiple candidates. With our complaints, we are confident in our actions because we did the right thing, even when no one was watching.” “Greg Ballard’s attempt to tell the Election Commission what to do shows why he is unfit to serve as Secretary of State. He is putting his desired outcome ahead of allowing the commission to operate independently. That is insider politics at its worst.”Max Engling(R) Candidate for secretary of state “I think it’s a good idea for them to meet. Maybe they can address complaints about the website failing while candidates were trying to file their paperwork before a legal deadline, or address forms with incomplete instructions that cause confusion.”Lauri Shillings(L) Candidate for secretary of state Braun has not commented on Ballard’s letter. This is a developing story. ...read more read less