Todd Rokita

Rokita Releases Report on Indiana's Preparedness for Upcoming Election

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:46:26 -0700

54-page document details state's voter outreach and collaboration with local election officials

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Secretary of State Todd Rokita, Indiana's Chief Election Officer, has published a 54-page report on his office's pre-election activity in preparation for the 2008 General Election. The report is available on the Secretary of State's Web page at www.in.gov/sos.

Highlights of the report include:

Extraordinary voter interest - with more than 817,000 new or updated voter registrations in 2008
Updated figures on the number of voters who have already voted in this year's election
Details of Secretary Rokita's 50+ county statewide pre-election tour
Information about his trip overseas to inspect the absentee ballot process and meet with troops and military voting representatives
Outreach to hundreds of thousands of new voters, students and poll workers
Unprecedented bipartisan collaboration with local election officials in all 92 Indiana counties
Nearly $500,000 in grants to Indiana counties for polling place accessibility improvements

"As we reach the final week of our preparations for this monumental election, I am encouraged and confident," said Secretary Rokita. "The enthusiasm I'm witnessing as I travel around the state is only matched by the level of preparation by our local election officials. Indiana is poised to deliver in one of its finest hours through the execution of a fair and accurate election."

Secretary Rokita's office will periodically update the 2008 General Election Readiness Briefing through Election Day.
Source: Indiana Secretary of State

Indiana Secretary of State Reports on Statewide Voter File and Process for Verifying Voter Registrations

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 15:45:26 -0700

Secretary Rokita Calls for Election Officials to Remain Committed to Ensuring Election Integrity by Utilizing Available Methods of Verifying Voter Registrations

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita issued the following statement today regarding the use of Social Security Numbers as an appropriate and viable way to verify voter registration forms in Indiana:

"Giving Indiana voters and taxpayers the chance to participate in the fairest and most accurate election possible is my number one priority as chief election officer. I'm being made aware of instances of voter registration fraud by ACORN and others, from all corners of the state and across the country. I take these very seriously.

Using all available appropriate technology is our best way to combat voter fraud that we know exists in this state and across the country. This is not the time to start foregoing or circumventing the process we have had in place for years that ensures accuracy in our election. We built a statewide voter registration system well within the perimeters of state and federal law.

In Indiana, the implementation of the Help America Vote Act involves the verification of new and updated voter registrations through a number of methods to ensure voters are who they say they are and that they are eligible to vote. These include verification through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and the Department of Correction.

Simply put, we have a lot of people in Indiana who have wanted to participate in this year's election and primary. We've had over 740,000 new and updated voter registrations already approved, and I welcome each one of these voters, and we have a lot of work to do still to process the remaining registrations so valid, eligible voters can vote. The number of inquiries to the Social Security Administration database is not out of line with the number of registrations."

Secretary Rokita made his comments while on a 45+ county tour of Indiana in advance of the election where he is personally assessing and assuring a fair and accurate election process for Hoosiers. Today he met with the Carroll County Clerk and held an election readiness forum for election officials and poll workers in Lebanon.

Source: Indiana Secretary of State

State of Indiana Files Brief in United States Supreme Court Case

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 3 Dec 2007 17:47:14 -0800

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - On Monday, December 3, 2007, the State of Indiana, acting on behalf of Secretary of State Todd Rokita, filed the "Brief of State Respondents" supporting Indiana's Voter ID law with the United States Supreme Court. The Court is currently reviewing Indiana's law that requires Hoosier voters to show photo identification in order to vote at the polls.

"We are enthusiastic to file this brief in support of Indiana's photo ID requirement because the law is common sense, low cost, and levels the playing field for all voters," stated Secretary Rokita. "Since it was enacted in 2005, six Indiana elections have demonstrated that the photo ID law is well crafted. I firmly believe that the Supreme Court will uphold the law in accordance with both the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and the District Court's decisions."

The "Brief of State Respondents" highlights the reasonableness of the Voter ID law and the long-overdue election-security reform that protects Hoosier voters. The Brief underscores voter protections created by the law, provides data that shows no significant negative impact on Hoosier voters, and points to the law as a legitimate fraud deterrent that ensures that each Hoosier receives one vote - and one vote only - that will not be devalued by vote fraud. Additionally, the Brief highlights the large number of safeguards that create a balanced law, such as free photo identification for those who do not already possess a photo ID.

"In addition to protecting against voter fraud, the photo ID law promotes security in the modern-day world of identity theft," Rokita said. "Safeguards provide free photo IDs and even if you forget your ID when visiting the polls, the law still allows the voter to vote provisionally and show an ID at a later time. Additionally, the photo ID law requires every voter present an ID, regardless of politics, party, age, race, gender, or economic status. Every vote is equal and every vote should count."

The "Brief of State Respondents" can be accessed at http://www.sos.in.gov/. The Supreme Court will consider the two consolidated cases, Indiana Democratic Party v. Todd Rokita and William Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, and will listen to oral arguments on January 9, 2008.

Source: Secretary of State Press Release