Secretary Rokita Addresses Election Reforms in Washington, D.C.

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

Indianapolis, IN - Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita is in Washington, D.C. early this week, participating in panel discussions on improving public participation and confidence in the election process. During the two-day program, Rokita will present recent Indiana reforms regarding technology and education in elections and participate in a series of discussions presented by The National Academies' Computer Science and Telecommunications Board. The conference is focusing on the influence of technology on the electoral process in the 21st Century.

The National Academies consist of four organizations: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council.

"As Indiana's chief election officer, I recognize how evolving technology affects the way we conduct our elections," Rokita said. "We must both consider technological advances and protect the integrity of our process. This conference addresses important issues, and I am not only proud to share the progress we have made in modernizing Indiana's elections, but eager to return with new ideas that may benefit Hoosier voters in the future."

Secretary Rokita is often asked to present on Indiana's election reforms around the country. This past summer, Rokita spoke about Indiana's model provisional balloting process at the Helping America Vote Summit on Election Reform in San Diego, California and also at the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Summer Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. Previously in our nation's capital, Secretary Rokita testified before Congress on Indiana's reforms in February, and last spring presented the state's efforts to congressional staff members and the Election Assistance Commission.

According to the National Academies' literature, The National Academy of Sciences was created by the federal government to be an adviser on scientific and technological matters. Studies undertaken for the government by the National Academies usually are funded out of appropriations made available to federal agencies. Most studies carried out by the National Academies are done at the request of government agencies and are carried out by their approximately 1,100 staff members.

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