Some state legislative leaders say it's worth exploring whether the requirements to get on Indiana's statewide ballots are too stringent. That comes as Representative Todd Young's candidacy for U.S. Senate is in jeopardy over failing to collect enough signatures to meet the required threshold.
Candidates for U.S. Senate must submit five hundred signatures from registered voters in each congressional district in order to be on the ballot. Young submitted more than 650 signatures in the 1st congressional district, but county clerks validated only 501 of them.
And counts performed by Statehouse media found only 497 signatures.
"That's cutting it way too close for most candidates, I would say. I understand how they got there but it's-- pretty short," says House Speaker Brian Bosma.
Senate GOP Leader David Long says if Young's signature count is short, it would be, in his words, "one of the most colossal mistakes" he's ever seen.
"Obviously it shows that you have support throughout the state as a statewide candidate – that's the theory behind it," Long says. "I'm not sure it serves its purpose anymore."
Speaker Bosma disagrees, saying the hurdle the signatures represent isn't too high.
The State Election Commission will decide the challenge to Young's candidacy, potentially at its meeting next week.