St. Joseph County Clerk of the Circuit Court Amy Rolfes is refusing to place four Democrats on the ballot.
The law is clear: The Clerk must place these candidates on the ballot!
BACKGROUND:
On Friday, August 28, 2026, Don Westerhausen, chair of the St. Joseph County Democratic party, filed certificates of candidate selection for the following individuals: Autumn Kaylor, Auditor St. Joseph County; Marcy Kauffman, New Carlisle Town Council; Dan Caruso, New Carlisle Town Council; and Christy Donlon, Walkerton Town Council, Ward 2.
This was done in accordance with Indiana Code Title 3. Elections Article 13. Vacancies Chapter 1. Early Candidate Vacancies 3-13-1-7.
For each candidate, a notarized CAN-12, CAN-31, and CAN-29 was filed, along with a copy of the Resolution from the August 26, 2026 regular meeting of the St. Joseph County Democratic Party Precinct Chairs and Vice-Chairs granting Chairman Westerhausen the authority to file and fill ballot vacancies.
Kimberly Riskovitch from the St. Joseph County Clerk of the Circuit Court's office file-stamped and accepted the forms on August 28, 2026, well in advance of the September 20, 2026 deadline to fill ballot vacancies. Now, these candidates selected by the Democratic Party to fill ballot vacancies must appear on the November ballot.
Responding to an inquiry made Monday, August 31 by Ms. Riskovitch, Angela Nussmeyer, Co-Director of the Indiana Election Division, under the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, was crystal clear:
“Statute is very clear that county election boards lack home rule authority to adopt procedures that are contrary to state law. The clerk accepted the filing and the party properly filled the ballot vacancy as permitted under state law. The CEB [County Election Board] is commanded by law to print the ballot with the candidate names. Adopting a procedure outside of state law makes the Board’s decision void and further exacerbates the issue before you.”
Any Board action preventing a candidate's name from being printed on the general election ballot would be an omission of their duties, which is a Level 6 felony.
We demand the incumbent GOP Clerk Amy Rolfes follow Indiana law by placing these four candidates on the ballot.