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Indianapolis, IN - Today, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita has issued a statement explaining the state's role in addressing issues concerning the failure of some vendors to provide certain Indiana counties proper ballots prior to the start of Absentee Voting on April 3, 2006.

Statement by Secretary of State Todd Rokita:

In addressing one of the requirements from the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Indiana's counties took on a huge responsibility when they overwhelmingly favored negotiating their own terms with vendors to not only eliminate punch card and lever machines where they existed, but to also make sure all precincts had accessible machines in Indiana as federally mandated.

Although I am deeply concerned about this issue, it is the responsibility of the counties to resolve this with their vendor. I applaud many counties that have saved millions in taxpayer money by making prudent purchases on behalf of their voters. I have worked diligently to help passage of state laws that impose stricter penalties against vendors who sell uncertified equipment in Indiana. Though Indiana law does not currently allow for it, I will continue to urge the enactment of laws that permit the Secretary of State to penalize vendors who recklessly fail to meet their duty to Indiana counties and Hoosier voters.