INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mitch Daniels issued his first vetoes of the recently ended legislative session while also signing 42 other bills into law over the past two days.

The governor has until today to sign or veto the remaining bills on his desk, including a bill that tries to correct the growing deficit in the unemployment insurance system and another bill that would establish a capital improvement board in Allen County.

He can also let the proposed legislation become law without his signature.

Daniels’ two vetoes were:

•Senate Bill 209, an election bill that contained numerous sections relating to casting provisional ballots, satellite voting and the creation of vote centers. The final version cleared the Senate 48-0, but the vote in the House was divisive at 55-43.

Daniels said though the bill contains provisions to make voting more convenient, “it does not contain sufficient safeguards against fraud and abuse and removes long-standing bipartisan checks and balances in the conduct of elections.”

Daniels’ office would not specify which portions of the bill were problematic.

Secretary of State Todd Rokita, who is Indiana’s chief election official, expressed displeasure in the governor’s veto.

“How ironic it is that the one local government reform that actually passes the legislature ends up getting vetoed,” Rokita said in a written statement. “Vote Centers is perhaps the only local government reform that so far has been proven unequivocally to save taxpayers money.

“I would expect, given the serious fiscal condition of the state, that the concept is important enough to find its way into the budget bill so that all 92 counties be given the opportunity to realize the unquestionable taxpayer benefits and savings.”

•House Bill 1348, which required the state fire prevention and building safety commission to adopt new energy conservation rules and standards.

But Daniels called the bill “superfluous” because he had ordered the commission months ago to update the state energy code to promote conservation and environmental protection.

Among the bills that the governor signed into law was House Bill 1346, which allows people with valid driver’s licenses or state identification to file voter registration forms using the Internet.

Currently, Hoosiers can download registration applications online, but they must print and mail the forms.

He also signed House Bill 1483, which legalizes golf carts on roads in Indiana if a city or town adopts an ordinance authorizing their use.

nkelly@jg.net