§ Ind. Code § 3-12-2-12Preservation of receptacle containing envelope or bag; contest of election; disposition of envelope or bag; use of ballots for election research

(a) The circuit court clerk shall preserve the receptacle containing the envelope
or bag in the clerk's office for the period required under IC 3-10-1-31.1. However, if the
election is contested, then the clerk shall preserve the receptacle containing the envelope or
bag as long as the contest is undetermined. During those periods the clerk shall keep the
receptacle securely locked, subject only to an order of the court trying a contest.
(b) When permitted under IC 3-10-1-31.1, the clerk and county election board member
of the opposite political party shall remove the envelope or bag from the receptacle and
destroy the envelope or bag.
(c) A county election board may contract with a state educational institution to dispose
of ballots. The contract must provide that:
(1) the ballots will be used by the state educational institution to conduct election
research; and
(2) the state educational institution may not receive any ballots under this subsection
until the period for retention under IC 3-10-1-31.1 has expired.