WEINZAPFEL CALLS ON ROKITA TO REPUDIATE ELECTION DELAY AND SUPPORT NO-FAULT VOTE-BY-MAIL

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – As President Trump threatened to delay the November election and attacked voting-by-mail, today Democratic nominee for Indiana Attorney General Jonathan Weinzapfel called on his opponent to reject any election delay and support no-fault vote-by-mail in response to COVID-19.

“Unlike Congressman Rokita, I won’t remain silent when it comes to the security or sanctity of our elections. What the President is proposing is illegal, unconstitutional and without any basis in reality. As the former chief elections officer for the State of Indiana, Todd Rokita should condemn that dangerous idea immediately and stand with me in supporting no-fault vote-by-mail for all Hoosiers,” said Weinzapfel. 

“I’m calling on Todd Rokita to do the right thing and join with me and leaders from both parties in urging the state to allow no-fault vote-by-mail this November. Just like wearing a mask, this is a commonsense thing to do that will help stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep us safe.”

As a former Secretary of State, Rokita supported voting by mail as well as allowing those serving overseas in the military to vote by email. Rokita himself has voted absentee 10 out of the last 13 elections.

“If no-fault vote-by-mail was the right decision in the primary when we had even fewer cases, it’s the right decision now. And if voting-by-mail was good enough for Todd Rokita himself, Hoosiers deserve the same rights,” Weinzapfel said. “We need to hear from Todd Rokita that he’ll stand with me in protecting Hoosiers’ health and our Democratic right to vote.” 

As a candidate for Attorney General, Rokita now says he opposes no-fault voting by mail according to several posts on his campaign’s Facebook page. 

“To me, this is a test of character and leadership. Will Todd Rokita be another Curtis Hill and put partisan fights and right-wing ideology ahead of the health and safety of Hoosiers?” questioned Weinzapfel. “Or is he willing to stand up, lead by example and put Hoosiers and their right to safely cast a ballot first? Hoosiers deserve to know.”