The following is the transcript from Greg Ballard's speech on Signature Delivery Day, as he and Hoosiers from across the state delivered over 41,000 verified signatures to get his name on the ballot for Indiana Secretary of State this fall.
Hello! Thank you for being here today.
The status quo is over.
For too long, our government has been conducted behind closed doors by the same insiders, the same parties, and the same rules written to protect the same people.
They continue to treat our elections like a private club and then hand Hoosier taxpayers the bill.
This is not consent of the governed. This is not the Indiana Hoosiers deserve.
Our current political system asks for your vote, but ignores your voice. We have politicians who fight to empower our parties, while what Hoosiers really want is accountability, honesty, and results.
The two-party stranglehold on Indiana politics is a relic. A political dinosaur long overdue for extinction.
Our campaign is bigger than one candidate. It is bigger than one office.
And insiders from both establishment parties know it.
They fought hard to keep us off the ballot. In fact, both Republicans and Democrats tried to convince me not to run or to drop out.
Trust me, that’s not happening.
They tried to make the rules so difficult, the threshold so hard to meet, and so unfair that ordinary citizens would give up. But tens of thousands of Hoosiers stood up and said, “No more. We want another choice. We want real competition. We want our state back!”
The Republican and Democrat in this race were each nominated at closed party conventions by about one thousand party insiders.
Today, I am delivering more than 42,000 verified signatures from Hoosiers who signed petitions because they are fed up, frustrated, and angry.
Now we are on the ballot. We are not here to whisper. We are here to break open this system and give Indiana back to her people.
For those of you who don’t know, I’m a two-term former mayor of Indianapolis, who won against all odds. As well as a 23-year Marine, Lieutenant Colonel, and Persian Gulf War veteran.
I’m different. I have always been an outsider, but I do know how the government should work. As mayor of Indianapolis for eight years, I had to solve problems. I had to bring people together. I had to deliver, and we did.
This campaign, however, is not just about me. It is about a movement. It is about opening the door for more good candidates around Indiana. Candidates with good judgment and character. Candidates with courage. Candidates who can win and who want to serve voters instead of parties.
The Secretary of State oversees our elections. The Secretary of State must protect every voter, every candidate, and every ballot, not merely mark time until the next, higher political position comes along.
So let me be clear: I will neither endorse, nor fundraise for, nor donate to, nor accept donations from candidates in Hoosier elections. Let that sink in.
I will serve the voters of Indiana. Period.
This should not be controversial. In this race, however, I am the only candidate willing to make this pledge, because I am the only candidate not owned by a political party.
My opponents are offering more of the same because they are part of the same. They will want to protect the rules that protect them. They will want to keep power exactly where it is.
Unfortunately, the establishment parties built a system that pushes good people out and pulls extreme voices in.
The candidates who are nominated make it clear: their priority is to serve the party first and the people second.
This is backward. It should be easier to run for office. The rules should be fair. The playing field should be level.
So to every Hoosier who has been shut out or taken for granted: this campaign is for you - you are in charge.
To every independent who has been told your vote does not matter: this campaign is for you.
To every Republican and Democrat who still believes public service should matter more than party loyalty: this campaign is for you.
To every Hoosier who is sick and tired of politics as usual: this campaign is for you.
To the thousands of Hoosiers who supported our historic, unprecedented effort to get us on the ballot— I thank you.
The status quo is over.
The stranglehold is broken.
The insiders have had their turn.
Now it’s the people’s turn!
This campaign, and the thousands of Hoosiers who support it, have already achieved two main goals, goals a few months ago everyone said couldn’t be achieved.
Number one: The incumbent is out of this race.
Number two: We are taking this step today to be on the ballot with the potential to open up ballot access into the future for scores of qualified Hoosiers who can serve their communities.
There is one more goal to go.
Winning.
Working together, we will win this fight. Let’s take back our elections and put power back in the hands of the people – where it belongs!
Today, I’m asking you, the people, for your vote, just as I asked for your signatures - the signatures we are about to turn in to the State.
Thank you for being here today, please join me as we walk to take the next step toward being on the ballot, the signature delivery!