Indiana voting centers established

A bill to make vote centers in Indiana a reality passed yesterday in the Indiana House of Representatives.

In 2005, Indiana Secretary of State Rep. Todd Rokita, R-4th District, led a bipartisan delegation of local and state election officials to Larimer County, Colo., to view permanent vote centers in action.

The delegation returned with information that resulted in the establishment of three vote center pilot counties: Tippecanoe, Cass and Wayne.

All of the counties reported savings in administering elections by reducing the number of machines and poll workers needed.

Vote centers also helped introduce innovative technologies to the polling place, such as electronic poll books.

“Passing this election reform was a dream I had years ago, and I am overjoyed to know that Hoosier voters will be better served from now on,” Rokita said in a press release. “I am proud to have stood with local election administrators and other community leaders in calling for this efficient and fiscally responsible option for counties to improve the election process for their voters.”