Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana, Public Question, Property Tax Measure (May 2023)

Indianapolis Public Schools Public Question
Election date May 2, 2023
Topic Local property tax and School district tax
Status Approved
Type Referral

Indianapolis Public Schools Public Question was on the ballot as a referral in Indianapolis Public Schools on May 2, 2023. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported levying a property tax at a rate of $66.10 per $100,000 of assessed value, generating an estimated $410 million over 30 years, for the purposes of constructing a new elementary school and for additions and renovations to multiple schools.

A "no" vote opposed levying a property tax at a rate of $66.10 per $100,000 of assessed value, generating an estimated $410 million over 30 years, for the purposes of constructing a new elementary school and for additions and renovations to multiple schools.

A simple majority requirement was needed to pass the measure.

Election results

Indianapolis Public Schools Public Question
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		14,834	59.17%
No		10,236	40.83%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Public Question was as follows:

“

Shall Indianapolis Public Schools increase property taxes paid to the school corporation by homeowners and businesses? If this public question is approved by the voters, the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a residence would increase by 20.4% and the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a business property would increase by 14.9%. The political subdivision may issue bonds or enter into leases to finance construction projects, which include the construction of one new elementary school; construction of additions and renovations to multiple schools for classroom instruction and extracurricular activities; maintenance, athletics, and site improvements throughout the School Corporation; and the procurement of equipment and technology, which is estimated to cost $410,000,000 over thirty (30) years. The most recent property tax referendum within the boundaries of the political subdivision for which this public question is being considered was proposed by Indianapolis Public Schools in 2018 and passed.

”

Path to the ballot

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of School Commissioners.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Indiana

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Indiana.

How to vote in Indiana

Poll times

In Indiana, polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time on the date of an election. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Indiana, an individual must be a U.S. citizen who has resided in the precinct in which the individual will be voting for at least 30 days preceding the next election. A person must also not currently be imprisoned after being convicted of a crime. The individual must be at least 18 years old by the day of the next general or municipal election. Proof of residence is required if a person is registering to vote for the first time. Registration can be completed online (if a person has a valid Indiana driver's license or state-issued ID), by mail, or in person. The deadline to register to vote is 29 days before the next election.

Prospective voters can register in person at the following locations:

“

1) Bureau of Motor Vehicles (“BMV”) license branch while applying for or renewing a driver’s license, permit, or identification card; 2) public assistance office while applying for services; 3) certain agencies serving persons with disabilities while applying for assistance; 4) law enforcement offices whenever a person is applying for a license to carry a handgun; 5) armed forces recruitment agencies; 6) county voter registration offices and the Indiana Election Division; and 7) unemployment compensation offices while applying for services

”

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Indiana does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Indiana has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Indiana does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Indiana law requires a voter to reside "in a precinct continuously before a general, municipal, or special election for at least thirty (30) days."

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Indiana does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Six states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Two states, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Indiana Voter Portal allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Indiana requires voters to present photo identification at the polls. The following criteria for accepted photo ID was current as of March 2026.

“

Under Indiana Code 3-5-2.1-84, which defines "proof of identification", your photo ID must meet 4 criteria to be acceptable for voting purposes. It must: 1. Display your photo 2. Display your name, and the name must conform to your voter registration record. Conform does not mean identical ... 3. Display an expiration date and either be current or have expired sometime after the date of the last General Election (November 5, 2024) NOTE: An ID issued by the US Department of Defense, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or Veterans Administration), the Indiana National Guard, or a Native American Indian tribe or band recognized by the United States government is not required to have an expiration date, or may state that the document has an "Indefinite" expiration date. 4. Be issued by the State of Indiana or the U.S. government In most cases, an Indiana driver's license, Indiana photo ID card, Military ID, or U.S. Passport is sufficient.

”

To view Indiana state law pertaining to voter identification click here.

An ID issued by an educational institution may not be used as voter identification.

A voter can obtain a free Indiana identification card from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2023
• Local property tax ballot measures

Indiana

• Indiana 2023 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Indiana
• Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas