STATEHOUSE (March 4, 2009) - State Sens. Ron Alting and Brandt Hershman (Rs-Lafayette) said today that vote centers are crucial, and the demise of the vote center system would cost already cash-strapped local budgets thousands of dollars and be a disservice to voters.

Alting and Hershman are pushing for the vote center pilot program to continue in Tippecanoe County. Alting is a member of a conference committee designed to work out differences between House and Senate versions of House Bill 1106 extending the program, which is set to expire at the end of this year.

Vote centers - tested during the 2008 election in Tippecanoe and two other Indiana counties - showed high rates of success, in part, because of their convenience and accessibility, Hershman said.

“At pilot program locations, voter turnout increased and election costs decreased,” Hershman said. “I fully support this program and call on the Democrats to stick to the issues and allow the vote centers to continue operating.”

According to a report by the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, counties which choose to establish vote centers could realize significant cost savings immediately and long term. The study states that vote centers allow election officials to staff fewer polling places and reduce the number of voting machines necessary to conduct an election.

Hershman said more than half of the 69,500 Tippecanoe voters last November cast their ballots at vote centers, generating a cost savings of 61 cents per vote.

“At least $75,000 in additional spending will be required next year if vote centers are not used in Tippecanoe County, and an additional $500,000 would need to be spent on new equipment in order to go back to precinct voting,” said Hershman, chair of the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee. “It is our duty to save taxpayers’ money.”

Alting said the program is currently at risk despite local support from both political parties and proof of significant cost savings.

“At this point, Democrat leaders in the House of Representatives will not approve the proposed bill,” Alting said. “Senator Hershman and I will continue to fight for this program until the final fall of the gavel.”

Hershman represents Senate District 7, which includes Carroll, Clinton, Howard, Jasper, Tippecanoe and White counties.