# What is the nature of the laws restricting polling in Indiana? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 2, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-nature-of-the-laws-restricting-polling-in-indiana/639625 "2012-11-02T00:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-nature-of-the-laws-restricting-polling-in-indiana/639625/1 "2012-11-02T00:05:59Z")
I can’t find anything with various Google search terms, so maybe an Indianan here can explain? Most recently I found a mention in a National Journal [article](http://www.nationaljournal.com/columns/on-the-trail/parties-wonder-which-side-s-polls-reflect-reality-20121101): > [@](#): > > …restrictive Indiana laws make polling prohibitively expensive there… RCP’s state polls section mentions this as well. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-nature-of-the-laws-restricting-polling-in-indiana/639625/2 "2012-11-02T01:15:51Z")
Here’s what I can find: [Indiana General Assembly](http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title24/ar5/ch14.html) Basically Indiana makes it illegal to robo-dial unless you already have a business relationship with the person or unless you use a live voice to introduce yourself first. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-nature-of-the-laws-restricting-polling-in-indiana/639625/3 "2012-11-02T02:58:28Z")
Huh. I thought most polling outfits besides Rasmussen did use live callers. I worked for a polling outfit in the '90s and we certainly called people the old fashioned way. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-nature-of-the-laws-restricting-polling-in-indiana/639625/4 "2012-11-02T05:59:24Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Here’s what I can find: [Indiana General Assembly](http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title24/ar5/ch14.html) > > Basically Indiana makes it illegal to robo-dial unless you already have a business relationship with the person or unless you use a live voice to introduce yourself first. And YET AGAIN somebody fails to recognize that the law makes a distinction between _telemarketing_ and _opinion surveys_. > [@](#): > > IC 24-5-14-3 > Commercial telephone solicitation > Sec. 3. (a) As used in this chapter, “commercial telephone solicitation” means any unsolicited call to a subscriber when: > (1) the person initiating the call has not had a prior business or personal relationship with the subscriber; and > (2) the purpose of the call is to _ **solicit the purchase or the consideration of the purchase of goods or services by the subscriber** _. (Emphasis added.) ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-nature-of-the-laws-restricting-polling-in-indiana/639625/5 "2012-11-02T13:09:30Z")
So is there some other law making polling expensive there, or is this just a case of the polling outfits misunderstanding the law, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-nature-of-the-laws-restricting-polling-in-indiana/639625/6 "2012-11-03T05:56:24Z")
Restrictions on use of automatic dialing-announcing device Sec. 5. (a) This section does not apply to messages: (1) from school districts to students, parents, or employees; (2) to subscribers with whom the caller has a current business or personal relationship; or (3) advising employees of work schedules. \*\* (b) A caller may not use or connect to a telephone line an automatic dialing-announcing device unless: (1) the subscriber has knowingly or voluntarily requested, consented to, permitted, or authorized receipt of the message; or (2) the message is immediately preceded by a live operator who obtains the subscriber’s consent before the message is delivered.\*\* As added by P.L.151-1988, SEC.1. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-nature-of-the-laws-restricting-polling-in-indiana/639625/7 "2012-11-03T06:01:25Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > And YET AGAIN somebody fails to recognize that the law makes a distinction between _telemarketing_ and _opinion surveys_. That definition is given because it relates to this portion of the code: IC 24-5-14-8 Time restrictions Sec. 8. (a) This section does not apply to messages described in section 5(a) of this chapter. (b) A caller may not use an automatic dialing-announcing device **for commercial telephone solicitation** so that a subscriber receives a telephone call before 9 a.m. or after 8 p.m.