GARY | If state legislators don't reach a budget deal in time before tonight's midnight deadline, Secretary of State Todd Rokita said his office is prepared to operate even in the case of a government shutdown.

Rokita spoke Monday to the Gary Chamber of Commerce about his office's preparedness and about how embracing technology has improved functions for those the office serves. The 39-year-old Munster native is the state's election chief and his office also regulates and handles licenses for automobile dealers, investigates securities fraud and is the license granting agency for Indiana businesses.

Although many services for the department can be completed online, the Secretary of State's office will use a "skeleton crew" to manage services including verifying the name of a business seeking to register in Indiana doesn't share a name with another entity.

Rokita said he wouldn't assign blame in why lawmakers haven't reached an accord, but reminded politicians that Indiana residents would hold them accountable if services are affected. If a shutdown lasted for a significant amount of time, he acknowledged that agencies could have difficulties digging out from the "snowstorm" of paperwork after offices reopen.

For the upcoming fiscal year, Rokita said he submitted a budget for the office that is lower than the office's 1987 fiscal year, not adjusted for inflation. Rokita said that his office plans on using 30 percent less office space in 2010 than when he entered the office in 2003.

"I came here to make government smaller, literally," Rokita said.

Rokita defended the practice of using a photo identification card to vote even though he has been a defendant in cases reaching the Supreme Court four times over the issue. He said the identification is a way to protect people's right to vote in multiple primary and general elections. Also starting next year, people will be able to register to vote registration for elections online.

"If you (don't) have a process people believe in, then they'll stop coming," Rokita said.

If an error was found, then a provisional ballot could be filled out to have the vote counted later if it is found that someone should be granted a vote in an election. There's a low percentage of provisional ballots filed in Indiana compared to other states, but Rokita said that's because many issues with whether a voter can cast this type of ballot are resolved at the precinct.

The secretary of state also said Hoosier business leaders need to continue fostering innovation, building work ethic and character in their employees and families and increase the focus on scholastic achievement with youth.