Some answers about Indiana's voter registration probe
Source: Associated Press
Some answers about Indiana's voter registration probe
Rick Callahan, Associated Press
Updated 5:53 pm, Friday, October 7, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana State Police are investigating possible voter registration fraud in 56 of the state's 92 counties in a probe that began in August. The investigation is focusing on the efforts of a Washington, D.C.-based voter mobilization group, Patriot Majority USA, which denies any wrongdoing and says it is being unfairly targeted for political reasons. The probe expanded Thursday to nearly two-thirds of the state's counties only days before Tuesday's deadline to register to vote in the state.
WHAT ARE INDIANA STATE POLICE INVESTIGATING?
State Police spokesman Capt. Dave Bursten says the agency began its investigation in late August when it was contacted by voter registration officials in Hendricks County, just west of Indianapolis. They reported that some voter registration applications submitted by the Indiana Voter Registration Project may have been forged, or were otherwise suspicious, he says. Investigators then found "a number of applications" where the signatures were apparently written in the same person's handwriting, raising concerns about forgery. Bursten says other concerns that could suggest fraud were subsequently found on applications the group submitted in Marion County, home of Indianapolis.
WHY HAS THE INVESTIGATION EXPANDED?
The investigation has expanded to 56 Indiana counties because, Bursten says, the State Police have concerns the same problematic applications "might be happening" in those counties. Bursten says State Police are looking into whether the Indiana Voter Registration Project may have submitted applications on behalf of people already registered to vote, without those individuals' knowledge. The probe is also looking at whether the applications contain "possible fraudulent or false information and a combination of made-up names, made-up addresses, real names with made-up or incorrect addresses, false dates of births with real names" and combinations of those examples, he says.
WHAT IS THE VOTER REGISTRATION GROUP THAT'S UNDER SCRUTINY?
The Indiana Voter Registration Project is a statewide voter registration push by Patriot Majority USA, which the Center for Public Integrity calls "a liberal nonprofit" group that's "the most active branch of a family of organizations" that includes a super PAC. The group is helmed by longtime Democratic strategist Craig Varoga, who has worked on numerous Democratic campaigns, including Bill Clinton's, Al Gore's and John Kerry's presidential campaigns. Varoga says he's a Democrat and has "never quibbled" with the Center for Public Integrity's characterization of the group.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Some-answers-about-Indiana-s-voter-registration-9947131.php
cynzke
(1,254 posts)That authorities initially found TEN (omg) suspicious registration forms. In all this group registered 145,000 new voters. If there was a conspiracy to cheat, those involved should/will be prosecuted. However in the scheme of things this is pretty far fetched. If they were plotting to rig elections in Indiana, they would have to have had 145,000 people lined up to vote fraudulently. Back in 2012, some registers were caught turning in false applications because they were getting paid piecemeal. Perhaps this an incident of the same thing.
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)So a dirty trickster turns in a few bad forms and the conservative republican police can unleash an army and swoop down to punish liberals for registering 145,000 new voters.
cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)the same time and that is if fraud is being committed by someone in the group that they are likely a right leaning mole trying to disrupt the election against the Democrats or this is purely a witch hunt with the intent to establish even stricter voter registration laws so as to weaken the chances for Democrats in the state.
Mc Mike
(9,115 posts)poli-junkie
(1,006 posts)okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)WhiteTara
(29,722 posts)when these kinds of investigations take place in a red state.
Judi Lynn
(160,621 posts)I have learned that the Associated Press can be wildly deceptive at times, really, REALLY treacherous. Occasionally, they will seem to state some of the facts, at least! I just don't know what the truth is about this.
Thanks for your comments.