Court order: Lindsey Cornett is back on the ballot for IPS school board
After a court order, Lindsey Cornett is back on the ballot for the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of School Commissioners election but without a political party affiliation. “I am really excited to get to move forward and head to…
In a recent court order, Lindsey Cornett has been reinstated on the ballot for the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of School Commissioners election. The decision was made by Marion Superior Court Judge John M.T. Chavis II, who ordered the change on Friday. Cornett, who was previously removed from the ballot in August after a successful challenge to her party affiliation, is now eligible to run again for the District 4 seat, which represents the southwestern part of the school district.
She was initially running as a write-in candidate but is now set to appear on the November ballot alongside Democratic incumbent Chris Bultman.
Cornett was removed from the ballot after a challenge was filed, alleging that she did not meet the requirements to run as a Democrat. She had claimed she had voted in two Indiana Democratic primary elections, as stated on her filing paperwork. However, the Marion County Election Board disagreed, stating that she had not voted in the two most recent Indiana Democratic primaries in 2026 and 2024.
The election board cited guidance from the Indiana Election Division and the author of the law on partisan school board candidates, as well as state law regarding candidates running for office.
However, Cornett argued that the law was unfairly applied and that the board should have used a specific state law for school board candidates. She requested the court to review the election board's decisions on the challenges against her and Bultman. In his decision, Chavis ruled that the election board's reading of state law and decision to remove Cornett was incorrect, stating that the state law around school board elections should have been used.
He noted that guidance from the state election division is "advisory only" and not binding. The court decision was made while ballots were being printed, and the election board stated that they would print and mail absentee ballots the following week. The District 4 IPS school board seat is up for election following the resignation of board member Allissa Impink, who won the Democratic primary for Indiana State Senate District 46.
The winner of the race in November would serve the remainder of Impink's term until 2028. Election Day is Nov. 3, with early voting starting Oct. 6.
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