Secretary of State Holli Sullivan announced Wednesday the State Budget Committee approved the allocation of funds that will allow for the purchase of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT) for counties, ensuring a paper record for all votes cast in the state by the 2024 General Election.
The funding totals $12.3 million and will allow the Secretary of State’s office to purchase 5,033 VVPATs for 45 counties by the 2024 election.
During the 2022 legislative session, the Indiana General Assembly passed Secretary Sullivan’s legislative proposal, requiring counties that use a direct record electronic voting system to utilize a VVPAT by July 1, 2024.
Paper trails boost voter confidence by allowing Hoosiers to independently verify their vote was correctly recorded. Additionally, the paper trails allow for more robust post-election audits and improve the recount process.
The budget committee also approved $3.2 million in funding to extend and enhance cybersecurity protection for the Secretary of State’s Office and Indiana counties.
