Indiana Resident Files For Presidential Primary Race

Photo: Noah Coffey (Flickr)

It is not likely that Patricia Inez Sandifer's name will appear on Indiana's primary ballot.

An Indiana resident tossed her name into the presidential race Wednesday but may not make it to the primary ballot. Lafayette resident Patricia Inez Sandifer filed to run for president of the United States and submitted a petition to the Tippecanoe County Election Board with one signature – her own.

Indiana Election Division co-director Brad King says in Indiana, presidential primary candidates are required to submit two documents: a declaration of candidacy to be placed on the ballot and a petition with 4,500 signatures – 500 from each of the state’s nine congressional districts.

“Ms. Sandifer filed the request for placement,” King says. “And she filed a petition, which appears to have one certified signature.”

King says because Sandifer is short on signatures, any registered voter can file a sworn affidavit challenging whether Sandifer meets the requirements to be on the ballot. Tippecanoe County Board of Elections and Registrations co-director Jared Bond says he explained the rules to Sandifer but she decided to run anyway.

“I’m not sure why that was, maybe just to try to get on the ballot,” he says. “But I have a feeling that probably is not going to happen if it was challenged because she was so short on the signatures.”

Challengers have until noon on Friday to contest Sandifer’s placement on the ballot. The Indiana Election Commission will make the decision regarding challenges by no later than March 1.

We attempted to contact Sandifer but could not find a working phone number.