Published: May 10, 2009 12:05 am         

TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Reform measures improve state’s voting procedures

New vote center, online registration good steps

“We use technology in every one of our other transactions in life. For some reason, we’re afraid to use technology in our most sacred civic transaction — voting.”

— Todd Rokita,

Indiana Secretary of State



We haven’t always been on the same side as Todd Rokita when it comes to so-called “reforms” in state election laws. The highly politicized “voter ID law” quickly comes to mind.

But the Indiana General Assembly, with Secretary of State Rokita’s leadership, passed legislation in its recent session that would expand vote centers and allow online voter registration. Should Gov. Mitch Daniels sign them into law, both proposals would make voting more convenient and could bring more Hoosiers to the polls.

Our favorite of the two bills is the one that would allow people with valid driver’s licenses or state identification to file voter registration forms over the Internet. As Rokita suggested, if the technology is available to improve the process, why not use it?

In fact, the voting process in almost every phase has long cried out for more advanced use of cutting-edge technology. The expense associated with implementing high-tech methods, of course, is the obstacle to widespread progress on that front.

It’s good to see advancement, however, especially in terms of voter registration. This reform measure will not only make the process more efficient and convenient for all involved, it also stands to make the process more secure in the long term. We continue to encourage state officials to pursue greater use of technology in elections.

We also urge Rokita and the Legislature to give serious consideration to moving the voter registration deadline closer to Election Day. Currently, registration closes one month before the election. That length of time is unnecessary and has the potential of being an obstacle for citizens who are new voters or need to change their registration after a move. People often don’t engage in the process until the final weeks of an election campaign. In Indiana, that’s too late if you’re not yet registered.

While we’re all for the expansion of vote centers, this year’s bill expands their use to only one more county — Johnson, which lost many of its voting machines in last summer’s massive flooding. That still leaves 88 counties without a vote-center option. But at least it’s a step in the right direction.

The Legislature took positive action in approving these bills. We urge Gov. Daniels to sign them.