Indiana secretary of state: Democrats mailed ‘defective’ ballot applications

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Secretary Of State Connie Lawson said the Indiana Democratic Party mailed out thousands of “defective” absentee ballot applications to voters, and she is trying to fix the mistake. 

The applications did not include a mandatory box with deadlines and instructions on how to apply. Lawson said a lawyer for the Democratic Party contacted her office Thursday to tell her about the mistake. 

“Indiana law requires everyone to use the same absentee ballot application,” Lawson said. 

Lawson said she is asking the Indiana Election Division to make an exception by approving the ballot applications. She said the division agreed to do that Friday morning, but some counties had already rejected the forms. 

“I want to ensure that all voters have their voice heard,” Lawson said. 

In Allen County, election officials said they are now accepting the forms but they’d already rejected about 450. They said they are now reaching out to those voters, asking them to reapply. 

Lawson said, if a county already decided to reject the forms, their election board can meet to reverse the decision. 

“I think it was a mistake, and I hope that we can get that mistake corrected,” Lawson said. 

“Our initial reaction was concern for the voters,” said Brienne Delaney, Marion County Election Board director of elections. 

Delaney said Marion County had not decided what to do about the incorrect forms. With Friday’s new direction, they can accept them all. 

“As far as we’re concerned, the issue is behind us,” Delaney said. “We just look forward to running a successful election.”

Lawson would not say how many counties are affected or how many incorrect applications went out. 

“I have reason to believe that it could be up to 100,000, or hundreds of thousands or more, but you would have to ask the Indiana Democratic Party for that exact number,” Lawson said. 

News 8 requested an interview with the party to ask how they made the error and received a statement from Chairman John Zody. 

“We are glad the Secretary of State agrees with Hoosier Democrats that every eligible voter in Indiana should be able to freely and easily exercise their constitutional right to vote,” Zody said. 

Lawson said if you filled out an application mailed to you by the party, you should double check your status here.