02.22.05
Contact: Jamie Jorczak (317)232-9524
jjorczak@iga.state.in.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(STATEHOUSE) This evening, the Senate Elections and Civic Affairs Committee passed a bill to make the state Election Division and the Election Commission more efficient.
Senate Bill 500 creates a mechanism for the Secretary of State to serve as a tiebreaker on Election Commission votes. It also eliminates the current law that requires the Election Division to employ two co-directors, one from each of the two parties that garner the most votes in a general election. SB 500 divides the responsibilities into one director position and one assistant director position.
Indiana is the only state in the nation with a statutory requirement that two co-directors oversee the operation of the Election Division. Missouri is the only other state to employ co-directors, but it is not required by law.
“The structure of the division is not appropriate to its needs,” said Sen. Mike Young (R-Indianapolis), the bill’s author. “We are fortunate that the current employees work hard to ensure the solvency of the division, but even the most well-intentioned staff cannot prevent the kinds of problems created by a poorly-designed division.”
Currently, the Election Commission consists of two Republicans and two Democrats, with no one to break a tie vote. The panel sometimes deadlocks when voting to penalize an individual who has violated state election laws, resulting in no penalty at all. SB 500 gives the Secretary of State the responsibility to break a tie in such cases.
“The Secretary of State already is the chair and has a tiebreaking vote on the Recount Commission and has demonstrated an ability to remain objective when making difficult decisions,” Young said. “I am confident that future officeholders will conduct themselves in the same manner.”
Young successfully authored an amendment to implement a “cooling off period” that bars commission members from being registered lobbyists, party officials (except for precinct committeemen) or public officeholders for two years before accepting an appointment.
Sen. Young also assured committee members that the passage of SB 500 does not jeopardize funding for state implementation of the Help America Vote Act.
“This legislation is fair no matter which party holds political power,” said Sen. Connie Lawson (R-Danville), chair of the Elections and Civic Affairs Committee. “Elected offices change hands on a cyclical basis, so our primary concern should be to adopt a structure that will run more smoothly and effectively.”
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Jamie Jorczak
Communications Director
Indiana Senate Majority Caucus
ph: (317)232-9524 or 1-800-382-9467
fax: (317)232-9664
www.in.gov/senate_republicans