10-16-2016, 02:07 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post...n-indiana/
On Oct. 4, one week before the state’s deadline to register to vote, state police raided the Indianapolis office of the Indiana Voter Registration Project, seizing computers, cellphones and records. The state police launched an investigation in late August after elections officials in Hendricks County, a suburb of Indianapolis, alerted authorities to some applications that seemed amiss. A spokesman for the state police told local news media that "at least 10" applications were confirmed to be fraudulent.
Varoga estimates that 45,000 people, most of them African Americans, might not be able to vote on Nov. 8 if investigators put a hold on applications collected by the group during its investigation. The group has asked the Justice Department to investigate, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocate for voting rights, sent a letter to Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson asking her to take steps to ensure that eligible voters who signed up through the voter registration drive will not be disenfranchised.
…Captain David Bursten, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, also disputed the agency was engaged in voter suppression. "Every allegation by Patriot Majority USA against the Indiana State Police is completely false. In fact, it is clear from evidence documented to date that we have uncovered intentional acts of fraud by representatives of Patriot Majority USA," he said. Bursten said no voter registration applications were taken from the Indiana Voter Registration Project.
Bursten said via email late Saturday: "While the investigation is still on-going, I can tell you at this time there are more than 300 copies of voter application forms that fall within the categories of being fraudulent or forged."
…The voter registration applications flagged by election officials in Marion and Hendricks counties "contained minor inaccuracies like missing Zip codes and area codes," Varoga said. "Based on the fact that they found (problems in) 10 forms out of tens of thousands … to launch a statewide investigation into a voter registration program is a political agenda.
Varoga said the investigation and raid were done to cripple his group's voter registration effort and to create fear and confusion among black voters.
On Oct. 4, one week before the state’s deadline to register to vote, state police raided the Indianapolis office of the Indiana Voter Registration Project, seizing computers, cellphones and records. The state police launched an investigation in late August after elections officials in Hendricks County, a suburb of Indianapolis, alerted authorities to some applications that seemed amiss. A spokesman for the state police told local news media that "at least 10" applications were confirmed to be fraudulent.
Varoga estimates that 45,000 people, most of them African Americans, might not be able to vote on Nov. 8 if investigators put a hold on applications collected by the group during its investigation. The group has asked the Justice Department to investigate, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocate for voting rights, sent a letter to Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson asking her to take steps to ensure that eligible voters who signed up through the voter registration drive will not be disenfranchised.
…Captain David Bursten, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, also disputed the agency was engaged in voter suppression. "Every allegation by Patriot Majority USA against the Indiana State Police is completely false. In fact, it is clear from evidence documented to date that we have uncovered intentional acts of fraud by representatives of Patriot Majority USA," he said. Bursten said no voter registration applications were taken from the Indiana Voter Registration Project.
Bursten said via email late Saturday: "While the investigation is still on-going, I can tell you at this time there are more than 300 copies of voter application forms that fall within the categories of being fraudulent or forged."
…The voter registration applications flagged by election officials in Marion and Hendricks counties "contained minor inaccuracies like missing Zip codes and area codes," Varoga said. "Based on the fact that they found (problems in) 10 forms out of tens of thousands … to launch a statewide investigation into a voter registration program is a political agenda.
Varoga said the investigation and raid were done to cripple his group's voter registration effort and to create fear and confusion among black voters.
