Indiana secretary of state defends Club America partnership INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales on Wednesday told News 8 that his voter registration partnership with Turning Point USA’s youth arm will be no different from any other registration drive. Earlier th is month, Morales announced he will partner with Club America, Turning Point USA’s youth program, on voter registration events at high school campuses. Morales told News 8 Club America approached him about partnering to sign up new voters and his office is the first in the country to do so. He said those events will use the same voter information materials his office uses for all other registration events and will utilize his office’s normal voter registration budget. “We’ve been using the same type of materials for several years now to increase voter participation, voter turnout,” he said. “We’ll go and set up a booth. We’ll have iPads available to register eligible Hoosiers.” Club America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliated with Turning Point USA. Both organizations were founded by the late conservative activist and commentator Charlie Kirk in an effort to mobilize and engage young conservatives. Turning Point USA also has a campaign committee, Turning Point Action, which endorses political candidates. Earlier this month, Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said partnering with an ideological organization to sign up new voters raises serious concerns. “No matter what that organization is, if it’s strongly tied to a political, ideological agenda and there is going to be a formal relationship, I think Hoosiers are saying, ‘Whoa,'” Yoder said. “We definitely need to be focused on getting out the vote but there are so many other important way that we do that.” Morales said he’s open to working with any group that wants to increase voter turnout, including progressive ones. He said Club America participants will only be able to provide information about the voting process itself, not candidates. “I hope more organizations reach out to the secretary of state’s office because my ultimate goal is to increase voter participation,” he said. “I’m excited about this opportunity and I hope others will reach out to us.” In addition to voter registration, Morales said he will recruit poll workers through the Club America partnership. High school students ages 16 and 17 can volunteer to be poll workers on election day if they get permission from their parent or guardian and their principal. Voter registration for the primary ends on April 6. You can register through the Secretary of State’s website, at any BMV facility or at your county clerk’s office. ...read more read less