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