Ex-Election Official Says Ballots Were Transported Improperly

Just when you thought there couldn't be any additional controversy over the primary election, Maxine Pifer, former member of the Kosciusko County election board, has alleged the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department transported absentee election ballots to the precincts without appropriate party representation.

"We had eight people running for the sheriff's department this year," said Pifer, "and the sheriff's department came in, one person in the car, to deliver absentee ballots, which is highly illegal."

According to state statute, Indiana Code 3-11-10-13: "The delivery of the absentee ballots must be at all times under the combined control of members of both political parties represented on the county election board."

"It's very clear in the statutes," said Kristi Robertson, co-general counsel of the Indiana Election Division in Indianapolis. "You have to have a Democrat and Republican."

Sheriff Al Rovenstine said the sheriff's department did assist the election board as a cost saving measure. He said the law clearly states that the sheriff's department is under the control of the election board.

While the statutes state the sheriff's department can help the election board write subpoenas and make arrests, Pifer said that nowhere does it say they can transport absentee ballots.

Marsha McSherry, Kosciusko County clerk, said the decision to have the sheriff's department deliver the ballots was a "last minute thing" and was, as Rovenstine stated, meant to be a cost-efficient decision.

According to Robertson, the election board told her that "this has always been our policy."

Even though they decided after the 1996 election not to have the sheriff's department do the delivery in the future, the election board voted for it again this year.

"It wasn't as efficient and cost effective," said McSherry of this year's delivery, "as we found out."

Robertson indicated the IED didn't care who delivered the absentee ballots but there must be equal party representation.

The Indiana Election Division can do nothing, however, to enforce the statute. All they could do was advise the county election board against having the sheriff's department deliver the ballots without equal representation.

"We can't make the county follow the statutes," said Robertson. "We don't have jurisdiction over that."

If there are any criminal charges involved, or any possibility of vote tampering, the issue should be taken up by David Kolbe, the Kosciusko County prosecutor, who is on vacation until May 26, and unavailable for comment.

Among other allegations, Pifer said, "The black registration books are a mess and that's what these (registered voter lists) are supposed to be certified from. There isn't a one of these that's been certified, period, according to rules, regulations and laws."

She said the list she received for her district was inaccurate and listed people that were not in her district.

Pifer's main complaint is that the election board is not performing according to rules and regulations. She said she loves the election process and wants to maintain it by following the appropriate guidelines, which are available from the IED for $5.

Pifer has asked for election training programs to be implemented on several occasions but has been turned down.

"We have no training in this county now," she said, "and I'm concerned."