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Indiana GOP Convention Going Virtual, With Mail-In Voting

The Indiana Republican Party's 2020 state convention will be virtual, with mail-in voting.
The Indiana Republican Party's 2020 state convention will be virtual, with mail-in voting.

The Indiana Republican Party’s 2020 state convention will be virtual. The party officially announced the change Tuesday, in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.

The state’s “Back On Track” plan will likely restrict gatherings to no more than 250 people by June 19, when the state GOP convention is scheduled. And since the event typically attracts more than 1,000 delegates, party chair Kyle Hupfer says it’s a no-go.

READ MORE: Governor Holcomb Outlines How – And Why – The State Will Reopen

Instead, Indianapolis television station WISH-TV will broadcast and livestream the convention on June 18. It will feature addresses from Gov. Eric Holcomb and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. It will also include speeches from each of the Republican candidates seeking the attorney general nomination.

Voting in that race will then take place by mail. Normally, candidates chosen at a convention square off in multiple rounds until one person earns a majority of votes cast. This year’s system will allow delegates to rank the candidates by order of preference to determine a winner.

Those ballots will be due by July 9.

Contact Brandon at  bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.