Rokita Distributes Voting Equipment Funds to Fountain County

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

Indianapolis, IN - Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita today distributed election reform money to Fountain County. This was part of the latest round of funding Rokita's office is giving to counties from the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002.

Fountain County received $178,000 in federal and state money which was distributed by the Secretary of State's office. This latest round of reimbursements brings to $29.9 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 personally met with Fountain County Clerk Mariann Martin to reimburse the county for the new Fidlar Accuvote Voting System machines that will be accessible to all of Fountain County's approximately 13,000 voters in all 16 election precincts beginning with the 2006 May Primary Election. Fountain County will switch from punch card ballots.

"It's nice to be able to tie up this process," said Martin. "Secretary Rokita's office has been huge help throughout this process, and we're so helpful for all of their assistance. We think our selection of Accuvote touch screen voting machines was a good one because after seeing many different voting machines, we took what we felt to be the best quality product at a fair price."

"It is great to see federal and state money being put to good use to help ensure fair and efficient elections for Hoosiers," Rokita said. "The folks here in the Fountain County courthouse 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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