Indiana voter to choose next Secretary of State Tuesday

Voters in Indiana will cast ballots for the next Secretary of State on Tuesday, November 3. The role controls state elections and manages business registrations across the state.

Republican candidate Max Engling spent the final days of the campaign detailing his plan to restructure the office. He told WIBC Morning News host Tony Katz that his main goals are election integrity, transparency, and holding business registrants accountable.

Engling said he wants to work with the Indiana General Assembly to create new processes. He described a goal to make the office run more professionally. He also proposed that the Indiana Inspector General conduct an outside review of the department.

"What you can't see is where there may be other issues," Engling said. "That is why it's important to bring in an entity that actually has the authority to audit the office, like the Inspector General, which is what I'm committed to, and I've called for."

A specific target for his proposed changes is the trucking industry. Engling linked fraudulent business registrations to public safety. He alleged that some companies register through the office and then hire drivers who lack proper commercial licenses, legal authorization, or English proficiency. He said the office can help improve road safety by holding these businesses accountable.

Engling secured the Republican nomination at the June convention. He defeated incumbent Diego Morales, who is not on the November ballot. Engling spent part of the week criticizing his Democratic opponent, Beau Bayh. Engling accused Bayh of misrepresenting his personal records.

"If my opponent is willing to lie about me for things that are public record, anybody can look at my finances. They can look at my driving record, things that he brought forward," Engling said. "If he's willing to lie about that, and it's public record, he's certainly going to be willing to lie about other things."