Many Marion County Votes Still Not Counted

INDIANAPOLIS -- All of the votes cast in Marion County still had not been counted as of early Wednesday afternoon because some voting machines had not been turned in to election headquarters.

The county's Democratic Party attacked County Clerk Doris Anne Sadler for what they called her mismanagement of Tuesday's election, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

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Democrat Chairman Ed Treacy compared the county's election troubles with what used to happen in Soviet bloc countries.

Sixty-six regular voting machines were not returned to election headquarters as of noon Wednesday, and none of the electronic voting machines was returned, Thomas reported. The outcome of the state House District 97 race and three township races hinged on the missing election data.

In the District 97 race, state Rep. Ed Mahern, a Democrat, was losing to Republican challenger Jon Elrod by 75 votes with 82 percent of precincts reporting.

"With the precincts left to be counted, in addition to those (votes) on the handicapped machines, I think it is very possible I could pick up 75 votes," Mahern said Wednesday. "I don't know that, and nobody knows that at this point in time. It's unfortunate."

Treacy said the election process in Marion County already was "pretty incompetent," and now, with the missing machines, he said it was "bordering on malfeasance."

"We're in a situation where we might as well be voting in Kazakhstan or someplace else like that," Treacy said.

Sadler said election difficulties aren't unusual, and that they were being highlighted now because of some tight races.

"Most of what you're seeing is exactly the standard operating procedure. It's just that nobody cares enough to come out here and watch it when there aren't close races," Sadler said. "Mr. Treacy, he's got a job to do, and that's to buck up his party's side of the equation, and he's doing it. I've got a job to do, and that's to get those machines in and get them counted."

The other races hinging on the oustanding votes were those for Lawrence Township assessor, and Warren Township trustee and Wayne Township trustee.

Election results will not be certified for at least 10 days.