Indiana

PRIMARY COLORS

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Marion County Clerk Beth White today says a legal opinion by Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita will cost taxpayers thousands of dollars and put the May 6 primary in jeopardy.  White had originally planned to use paper ballots for the March 11 special election for the 7th Congressional District, thereby freeing up the County’s voting machines for the May primary.

However at this morning’s election board meeting, White said Rokita’s legal opinion was that the paper ballots violated federal law and the County had to use electronic voting machines.  White wanted to use paper ballots and allow electronic voting on-demand, because of the short time period between the two elections.  White says the machines need to be programmed for each election and there is not enough time to do it between the two elections.

White said while she strongly disagreed with Rokita’s opinion and said it lacked common sense, she said she did not have the energy to fight Rokita and accused him of playing politics and parroting the Marion County Republicans criticism of her office.   Matt Tusing, Rokita’s Chief of Staff, says they are not playing politics but advising White to comply with the law.

Marion County GOP Chairman Tom John says White can have the machines ready for both the March 11 and May 6 primaries, she just has to tell ES & S, the company which owns the machines, to do so.

White says because of Secretary of State’s opinion the County may have to spend up to $250,000 to buy or rent new machines for the May 6 primary and she can’t guarantee the election will go smoothly.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on February 13, 2008 (boomark / email).