Rokita Distributes Voting Equipment Funds to Morgan County

Contact: AJ Freeney-Ruiz
317-233-8655
Media@sos.in.gov

Indianapolis, IN - Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita will distribute election reform money to Morgan County on Thursday morning. This is the latest round of funding Rokita's office is giving to counties from the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002.

Morgan County is receiving $241,998 in federal and state money that is being distributed by the Secretary of State's office. This brings to $17.5 million the total distributed under HAVA to Indiana counties since Rokita's office began distributing funds to help pay for voting equipment upgrades resulting from the required phase-out of lever and punch card voting machines.

Rokita will personally meet with Morgan County Clerk Vickie Kivett to reimburse the county for the new MicroVote Infinity Voting System machines that will be accessible to all of Morgan County's approximately 46,000 voters in all 49 election precincts come Election Day.

"It's been a long road to get to this point," said Kivett. "Many times we officials are faced with mandates that aren't funded, but this is one project that the federal government and the state came through in providing us the money we needed. Secretary Rokita's office has been extremely helpful throughout this process, and we couldn't be more thankful for their help.

"It's great to see federal and state money being put to good use to help ensure fair and efficient elections for Hoosiers," Rokita said. "Morgan County can now focus on other election matters."

Congress passed HAVA in response to issues in various parts of the country during the 2000 Presidential Election. HAVA requires states and counties to replace all punch card and lever machine voting systems by January 1, 2006. A number of Indiana counties will be eligible for additional funding in the coming months.

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