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Race For The Presidency
Winning the 2008 Nomination
By Rhodes Cook |
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When it comes to its presidential primary, Indiana marches to the beat of its own drummer. the Hoosier State has held its primary in May since 1956 and will do so again in 2008, in spite of the wholesale movement of many other states to dates in the shadow of Groundhog Day.
Democratic delegates are chosen to reflect the primary vote, as are Republican district-level delegates. GOP at-large delegates, chosen at the state convention in June, are not bound to reflect the primary results.
Indiana does not have party registration, so its 3,688,224 active registered voters (The total as of April 2007) may participate in the primary of either party. However, those who have voted in another party's primary in the past may be challenged and required to sign an oath that they are changing their party preference.
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DEMOCRATS |
REPUBLICANS |
| THE CALENDAR |
Primary Date
(polling hours) |
May 6
(6 a.m.-6 p.m. local time) |
May 6
(6 a.m.-6 p.m. local time) |
| Filing Deadline |
Feb. 12 |
Feb. 12 |
| Filing Procedure |
Candidates must submit petitions signed by at least 4,500 registered voters, including at least 500 from each congressional district, to the appropriate election office in the counties in which they were obtained. Once certified, petitions are to be submitted to the secretary of state by Feb. 22. |
| THE DELEGATES |
| Number (% of national total) |
85 (1.9%) |
57 (2.4%) |
| Distribution: |
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By district |
47 (from 4 to 6 per district) |
27 (3 per district) |
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At-Large |
16 |
27 |
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Pledged PEOs |
9 |
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RNC members |
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3 |
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Superdelegates |
13 |
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| Method of Allocation |
Proportional—15% of vote needed to win a share of statewide or district delegates. |
Winner-take-all at district level. At-large delegates are chosen at the state convention and are not required to reflect the primary vote. |
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