Daylight Savings 2026: Indiana Falls Back Nov. 1 — But the Hoosier State Still Lives in Two Time Zones Again

Look at which party wins the the counties where the polls are open past dark.

Polls should only open from dawn to dusk...to avoid cheating under the cover of darkness in the region where the last hour is dark out, and buses come into Michigan City and vote at address that don't exist for postal delivery as in the past. Is there any wonder why this occurs before election day and not after it?

NDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will turn its clocks back one hour early Sunday morning, Nov. 1, ending daylight saving time for 2026 and returning the state to standard time.

At 2:00 a.m. local time, clocks move back to 1:00 a.m., giving Hoosiers an extra hour of sleep but bringing noticeably earlier sunsets beginning Sunday evening. Indiana has observed daylight saving time statewide since 2006.

Indiana Still Has Two Time Zones

The clock change happens statewide, but Indiana remains divided between Eastern and Central time.

Most of Indiana’s 92 counties are in the Eastern Time Zone, including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Bloomington and most of central and eastern Indiana. Twelve counties are in the Central Time Zone.

In northwest Indiana, the Central Time counties are Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton and Starke. In southwest Indiana, they are Gibson, Perry, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick. Yes, these are counties where election integrity efforts need to be focused. In the past many Republican Poll Watchers have actually been filled with Democrats, or RINOs.

That means a traveler driving across Indiana can still cross a time-zone boundary even though every county changes its clocks on the same calendar date.

Indiana’s Long and Complicated Clock History

Indiana’s relationship with daylight saving time was once considerably more confusing.

Before 2006, much of the state did not observe daylight saving time, while some counties did. That created a patchwork in which neighboring communities could follow different clock rules depending on both time zone and local practice. Indiana changed state law in 2005 so that the entire state would begin observing daylight saving time the following year.

The result simplified one part of the system but did not eliminate Indiana’s two time zones.

What Hoosiers Should Do Saturday Night

Most smartphones, computers and newer electronic devices should update automatically. Traditional clocks, watches, microwaves, ovens and vehicle clocks may still need to be changed manually.

The easiest rule remains the old one: “fall back.” Before going to bed Saturday night, turn clocks back one hour.

The time change is also a useful reminder to check smoke alarms, carbon-monoxide detectors and other household safety devices.

The Earlier Sunset Returns

The extra hour Sunday morning comes with a tradeoff. Sunset will occur roughly an hour earlier by the clock than it did the day before. Morning light will arrive earlier as well.

Indiana will remain on standard time through the winter before daylight saving time returns on the second Sunday in March.

For now, Hoosiers get one small consolation as November arrives: an extra hour of sleep.

For the map, use the graphic above. One caution: the official Indiana state map confirms the 12 Central Time counties, and that official county list should be the controlling reference for publication.