Oct 20, 2008 10:28 pm US/Central
Is Early Voting Law Being Violated In Lake County?
GARY, Ind. (CBS) ―
A decision is looming in the battle over early voting in Northwest Indiana. The battle is being closely watched – since Indiana could be crucial in this election. CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports an Indiana Supreme Court judge could decide by Tuesday evening whether early voting sites in Gary, East Chicago and Hammond should close.
Yesterday. Gary Mayor Rudy Clay was blasting Republicans to get Democratic voters in Gary enthusiastic about casting their ballots early.
"We're spending $12 billion in Iraq a month," Clay said. "We can't get $12 to fix a pothole."
This is not the first time there's been a voting controversy in Lake County. During the May primary, election workers lined up to count votes, but the results from Lake County didn't come out until after totals were announced from other areas.
The delay prompted accusations that Gary Mayor Rudy Clay kept the lid on vote totals for drama. He says not this time.
"So there will be no should I say 'hanky panky' as they call it," Clay said.
Clay says this time, there will be more people to make sure the flood of early votes are counted properly.
"And the state law in Indiana, you cannot start counting these early votes until noon of election day," Clay said. "And in the primary, we counted almost 11,000. But in the primary before that we only counted 2,000 in a real small room."
CBS 2's Mike Parker reports that a specially appointed judge wrapped up a day long hearing on Indiana's early voting law, and whether it's being violated in Lake County.
Local Republicans allege that setting up different satellite voting locations in Gary, East Chicago, Hammond and Crown Point is illegal. The GOP also claims this system invites both fraud and phony registrations.
Democrats say the Republicans are trying to disenfranchise minority voters in a state that Barack Obama has a chance to win. On Monday, special Judge Diane Kavadias-Schneider personally visited each of the early voting locations in Lake County. She wanted to see the safeguards for herself.
Early voters who were lined up in Crown Point are convinced it's all on the up and up.
"You have the proper people to make sure it's going on in the proper way," said Essie Bailey-Demic. "Everyone shows an ID."
"It's highly intelligent to let us vote early," said Leontine Dupree. "We can get other people out to vote. The line won't be too long. This is very, very good."
But all the early voting could be for nothing. If it's allowed to go forward, the GOP is hinting that it might try further legal action to keep these votes from being counted.
As the battle over early voting locations in the county continues, some voters are growing weary of the focus here.
"Let it be over, November 4th, let it be over," a voter said.
But she and others say they still have faith in the process.
"I believe this is a very historical day and regardless of how long the line is, I'm willing to wait on that day," said early voter Ron Brewer.
CBS 2's Pamela Jones and Mike Parker contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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