Sep. 4—GOSHEN — Secretary of State Diego Morales visited Goshen on Wednesday to drop off a check for election improvements.
Morales met with local leaders at the Goshen Courthouse to deliver a check of $33,500 which Elkhart County Clerk Chris Anderson said will be used to purchase backup computers and equipment.
It’s part of a grant from the Help America Vote Act, wherein all Indiana counties are eligible for funds based on their needs. So far, 90 of the 92 counties have taken up the offer, which requires an application outlining the election needs of the county.
Morales said despite that fact that HAVA is a federal program, there are no strings attached.
“We want to make sure to bring this money directly to the counties,” he said.
Elkhart County Clerk Chris Anderson explained that when the state impounded the county’s voting materials during the investigation of the District 49 election following this year’s primary election between incumbent state representative Joanna King and Cindi Hajicek, it left them with no access to the computer they needed to build the ballot for the November election.
All in all, while they waited for access, the department fell an estimated eight to 10 weeks behind.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
