Democratic Candidate For Secretary Of State Proposes Election Reform

Democratic Secretary of State candidate Beth White says she wants to improve Indiana’s voter participation, which is third lowest in the country, and is proposing a series of election reforms.

Indiana is one of only three states – along with Kentucky and Hawaii – that closes its polls as early as 6 p.m.  Marion County Clerk Beth White, the Democrat running for Secretary of State, says extending that by even one hour is a common sense way to encourage greater voter turnout.  She acknowledges that increasing poll hours will cost money.  But she says that shouldn’t be the greatest concern.

“The most important thing to me is not elections on the cheap. It’s elections that work for the people," White said. "And the crisis we have now is that people don’t vote.”

White says Indiana also needs to change the way it redraws its legislative districts every 10 years.  She says redistricting controlled by legislative majorities has led to more uncompetitive races and driven up voter apathy.

“We need a nonpartisan commission that draws districts that are compact and have communities of interest at stake.  And the way that other states have done this all around the country," White said. "Other states are doing a much better job of this and we have got to improve.”

A bill cosponsored by Speaker Brian Bosma creating a redistricting commission overwhelmingly passed the House last session, but did not get a hearing in the Senate.