Southern Ind. mayor faces voter fraud charges

AUSTIN, Ind. (AP) - Prosecutors have charged that the mayor of a small southern Indiana city tampered with absentee ballots during last year's primary campaign.

Austin Mayor Douglas Campbell and a city employee surrendered Tuesday to face the felony voter fraud and conspiracy charges. They are charged with illegally taking absentee ballots from voters and that in one instance Campbell filled out a woman's incomplete ballot.

Under state law, absentee ballots not mailed in can only be handled by election board workers.

Defense attorney Kathleen Sweeney tells WLKY-TV that Campbell says he's innocent of the charges.

Austin Clerk-Treasurer Dillo Bush tells The Courier-Journal that Campbell told her he intends to remain as mayor of the city about 30 miles north of Louisville, Ky.

Campbell is a Democrat first elected mayor in 2007.