A comprehensive new study from Independent Indiana provides an in-depth, illuminating examination of the issues negatively affecting Indiana elections – as well as some bold, achievable recommendations on how to make them more competitive and accessible.

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At a public event at the Indiana Statehouse on Monday, Independent Indiana formally unveiled the report, which was developed from months of research, original data analysis, and on-the-record and anonymized interviews with political leaders, election experts, and current and former officeholders from both parties.

The study includes three specific recommendations for the return of competitive elections in Indiana – the elimination of straight-ticket voting; the return of pre-1980 signature requirements for independent candidates; and the development of critical resources and infrastructure for independent candidates. All three recommendations were included in Independent Indiana’s 2026 Candidate Toolkit, an in-depth guide designed to help first-time independent candidates navigate the election process in Indiana that it also unveiled at the event.

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The study also includes unusually candid assessments from Republican and Democratic elected officials about the true state of their own parties and the structural forces shaping Indiana politics today.

“We launched this study because we wanted to understand what’s really happening across our state—how big the problem is, what’s driving it, and where we might find hope,” said Nathan Gotsch, executive director of Independent Indiana. “We gathered data, interviewed experts, and listened to people from every corner of Indiana and every part of the political spectrum. We also looked closely at a growing number of independent candidates who are making an impact in their communities.”

In addition to diagnosing the problems driving Indiana’s one-party-dominant system, the study explores the success of independent candidates statewide, as well as the real and perceived barriers they face to run for elected office. The report finishes by offering several data-driven recommendations aimed at restoring meaningful competition to general elections statewide. Recommendations include several policy reforms and significant infrastructure investments.

“Boldness is a big part of who we are as Hoosiers, so these recommendations certainly include bold ideas,” Gotsch added. “Indiana is a place with a proud independent streak and a long tradition of innovation. And what stood out most to me throughout this work is how deeply people from all walks of life care about our state, its people, and its future.”

The issues affecting Hoosier politics and elections – as well as the recommended solutions to address them – are covered in detail across the study’s five primary areas of focus:

1. One-party rule and its impact on competitive politics: Indiana’s political system no longer rewards competition or innovation, instead incentivizing loyalty to the dominant party and its primary voters. The result is a feedback loop: fewer competitive elections, less representative policies, and declining public engagement.

2. An inside look at the two major parties: Frustration with Indiana’s political system has evolved into something deeper: broad disillusionment with the two major parties themselves, which is clearly demonstrated in a statewide survey commissioned for this study.

3. The success of independent candidates: Over the past two election cycles, 244 independent candidates appeared on ballots in partisan races across the state — and 52% of them won, compared to 61% of Republican candidates and 35% of Democratic candidates during the same period. This section includes in-depth profiles of three Hoosiers who won races as independent candidates.

4. Barriers to scaling independent access and success: Significant structural and cultural barriers do more than disadvantage independent candidates—they actively narrow civic participation. The cumulative effect of these barriers is a self-perpetuating system in which qualified leaders are discouraged from running and voters are denied meaningful choice – a result that polling clearly shows voters see as unfair. Leveling the playing field for independent candidates is not a fringe reform—it is essential.

5. Possible remedies and solutions: Policy reforms like the elimination of straight-ticket voting, a reduction in the number of signatures required for independent candidates, and a return to open primaries, as well as election-infrastructure investments, all offer important opportunities to return accessibility and competition to elections.

“This study began as an effort to understand whether independents could compete at higher levels, but it quickly evolved into something much bigger,” said Gotsch. “We ended up with a comprehensive picture of how our political system actually works—and an in-depth examination of possible remedies to return competitive general elections within four years.”

The Candidate Toolkit unveiled today covers all aspects of running as an independent, including ballot access requirements and filing deadlines; signature gathering; key dates and checklists; and other key resources.

Gotsch was joined at the event by two board members from the Center for Independent and Effective Government (CIEG), the parent organization of Independent Indiana: Jay Chaudhary and Amar Patel.

“This study is clear in its ultimate conclusion – Hoosier voters deserve better than the status quo,” said Chaudhary. “The reforms recommended in this study represent real change and opportunity. The work may not be easy, but we know from polling and the recent success of independent candidates that the will and determination are there.”