(AP) — Indiana’s top elections official says the state will use more than $7.5 million in federal funding to enhance election security but won’t upgrade its voting machines.
Secretary of State Connie Lawson has announced plans for using the federal assistance to strengthen voting systems ahead of the November election. Indiana was among the states and territories to receive money from the $380 million approved by Congress amid ongoing threats from Russia and others.
Indiana received a failing grade this year in the liberal Center for American Progress assessment of election security. The Indianapolis Star reports one reason is that the state’s voting machines don’t include voter-verifiable paper ballots.
Lawson says adequate funding isn’t available to make that change. It’s estimated to cost up to $35 million to replace Indiana’s voting machines.