Young adult Hoosiers care deeply about public issues but remain largely disconnected from the political process, including voting, according to new research released Wednesday by ReCenter Indiana Inc.

The nonpartisan study found that distrust of government, disappointment with politics and practical barriers on Election Day are major reasons many young adults do not vote, even though many say they want to participate.

According to the Tufts University CIRCLE 2024 youth voting report, just 39% of young Hoosiers voted in the 2024 general election, placing Indiana among the lowest-performing states and well below the national young adult turnout rate of 47%.

ReCenter Indiana’s research focused specifically on non-voters. The organization surveyed 307 Central Indiana residents ages 18 to 34 who were registered to vote but did not cast a ballot in the 2024 general election. The survey was statistically representative and included both online and phone interviews, along with a focus group discussion.

“Young adult non-voters are not apathetic. They really care — but they are distrustful of government, disappointed by politics and impeded by Election Day barriers,” said Jocelyn Vare, executive director of ReCenter Indiana. Vare presented the findings at the All IN For Democracy press conference at the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Among the key findings, a majority of respondents said they do not believe their voices influence government decisions or election outcomes, and many feel the government is not listening to people like them. Pessimism about the future was also widespread, with half of respondents describing their outlook as pessimistic or negative.

The study found that the most common reason young adults gave for not voting was the belief that their vote “doesn’t matter.” Other barriers varied by party affiliation, gender and identity, with some respondents citing dissatisfaction with the candidates, while others pointed to personal obligations or missed deadlines.

Nearly half of those surveyed — 45% — said they have never voted. Those respondents were more likely to cite distrust of the electoral process or a lack of information than respondents who had voted in the past.

Despite those challenges, the research indicates that many young adults remain open to civic participation. When asked whether they would vote in the upcoming year, 35% said they would “definitely” vote, and many others reported an above-average likelihood of doing so.

The study also identified several practical obstacles that make it difficult for young adults to turn intent into action, including work schedules, long lines at polling places, limited Election Day hours and lack of awareness about early voting options.

The research was funded by a grant from the Nicholas H. Noyes Jr. Memorial Foundation and conducted jointly by Bellwether Research, which typically works with Republican candidates and causes, and Hart Research, whose clients are typically Democrats. Fieldwork took place in late October 2025.

A summary of the findings, along with statements from focus group participants, survey details and links to the full report and crosstab data, is available at ReCenter Indiana’s website.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools announced it will operate on a two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 29, as the district continues to navigate winter weather that has kept students on some form of e-learning throughout the week.

According to the district, the delayed start is intended to give transportation crews additional time to prepare buses and allow for improved visibility at bus stops. Officials noted that morning temperatures will remain very cold and encouraged families to ensure students are dressed appropriately for the conditions.

HSE Preschool classes, including both morning and afternoon sessions, are canceled for Thursday. Students attending the Hamilton Southeastern Fishers (HSF) Academy will continue with e-learning rather than reporting in person.

The district also reminded families of its contingency plan should weather conditions worsen. If school is canceled, all students in grades K–12 will participate in synchronous instruction. Students would be expected to check Canvas for their daily schedules and be prepared to join live classes via Microsoft Teams beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools has relied on a mix of e-learning days, delays and schedule adjustments this week as winter weather has affected road conditions and safety across the district.

After two consecutive e-learning days due to the recent winter storm, Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools will return to in-person classes Wednesday, but with a 2-hour delay.

Democrat Devon Wellington of Noblesville has announced her candidacy for Indiana House District 29, a seat that includes portions of Fishers and is currently represented by Republican Alaina Shonkwiler.

In a statement announcing her campaign, Wellington said she is running to provide what she described as more responsive representation for residents of the district.

“I am running because I believe every single Hoosier in District 29 deserves a representative who listens to their concerns and fights for their priorities,” Wellington said.

Wellington said she has spent time speaking with families across the district and believes their concerns are clear.

“I have listened, and the families of District 29 have made their priorities clear: they want a more affordable life, strong public schools, and real economic opportunities for themselves, their children, and future generations,” she said.

Wellington has lived in Noblesville since 2023. She works as an educational policy advocate consultant and is a small business owner. According to her campaign, she volunteers at her children’s school, serves on Noblesville school district boards, and is involved with the civic engagement organization MadVoters.

Indiana lawmakers have approved a major overhaul of the state’s local income tax system, shifting decision-making power away from counties and toward cities and towns — a change that will require Fishers officials to decide in the coming years whether to enact a city income tax for the first time.

For decades, Indiana’s local option income tax (LIT) was primarily a county-level decision. Counties chose whether to impose an income tax and at what rate, and the revenue was collected countywide. The state then distributed those dollars to cities, towns, townships and other local units using a statutory formula.

In Hamilton County, that countywide income tax rate has been 1.1 percent. Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield and other local governments each received a share of the revenue based on population and other factors set by state law. Cities did not control the tax rate directly and could not opt in or out independently.

That system is now changing under a sweeping tax reform package approved by the Indiana General Assembly in 2025 as part of broader property tax relief legislation.

Under the new law, existing countywide local income tax rates will expire after 2027. Beginning in 2028, counties and municipalities will each have the authority to adopt their own local income taxes within state-established limits.

For the first time, cities and towns — including Fishers — will be allowed to impose a municipal income tax directly on their residents. Cities with populations above 3,500 may adopt a local income tax rate of up to 1.2 percent. Counties will also be permitted to impose income taxes for county services, but under a restructured system.

State law caps the combined local income tax rate — county plus municipal — at 2.9 percent. That means any income tax adopted by Fishers would count toward that combined maximum along with any Hamilton County tax.

The change effectively ends the long-standing practice of pooling county income tax revenue and redistributing it to cities. Instead, local governments will be responsible for raising their own income tax revenue if they choose to do so.

For Fishers, the shift has significant budget implications. The city currently receives millions of dollars annually from Hamilton County’s local income tax distribution. Under the new system, that revenue source will disappear unless Fishers adopts its own municipal income tax.  Mayor Scott Fadness has indicated he favors a city income tax, but there is no rate that has been suggested up to this point.

City officials are expected to begin discussing the issue during the 2026 and 2027 budget cycles, ahead of the 2028 implementation date. Any decision to enact a local income tax would require action by the Fishers City Council and would include public hearings.

Supporters of the new law say it gives cities more direct control over their finances and increases transparency by tying tax decisions more closely to the governments that provide services. Critics argue the change could pressure cities to raise income taxes to replace lost revenue tied to property tax relief.

For residents, the impact will depend on decisions made locally. While the overall local tax cap remains in place, Fishers’ future tax structure — and how city services are funded — will soon be determined closer to home.