Statement from Secretary of State Todd Rokita

Contact: Kate Shepherd
317-233-8655
Media@sos.in.gov

Indianapolis, IN -- "Our Indiana Election Division developed a tool similar to those used across the nation to help Indiana's local election officials identify possible deceased voters to aid them in cleaning up voter rolls and maintaining accurate lists. Explicit directions accompanying the list made clear that county election officials, and only county election officials, have the authority to remove voters from their respective lists. The instructions explained the degree of probability that each name on the list might match a name on the county's voter registration list. The instructions further outlined that in the unfortunate case a voter was removed in error, he or she could be reinstated by a certificate of error issued by the county voter registration office.

"The list provided by my office was a research tool to help all counties make those independent decisions. This step was undertaken in a legitimate, proactive effort to help county officials more accurately maintain voter registration lists that have become bloated, as recently reported by the media. The information the Election Division has at this time from other counties is that they have had very few problems stemming from the list."