Clerk Will Not Release Names Of Missing Inspectors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Marion County residents who were denied the right to vote Tuesday may never find out who directly caused their problems.

County clerk Beth White said Thursday that she will not release the names of the inspectors who failed to show up, causing many precincts to open late or not at all, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

White said she doesn't think anything can be gained by releasing the names. By her own estimate, about 150 who had signed up to be inspectors failed to show up, resulting in as many as 100 precincts opening as late as 4 p.m. and five that didn't open at all.

"I have held myself responsible. I am responsible for this process, and I do not want to embarrass or otherwise make life difficult for people who, for various reasons, decided they couldn't or wouldn't serve," White said. "We do not have a list. There is no document I can go pull out of a drawer and give to people."

White said the list is not a public document because the law doesn't require her to create one. She added that the list kept changing anyway and there was never anything permanent. Republicans disagree and want to see that list.

"I don't think Beth White has the ability to deny them. This is a public record and … anyone in the public who would like to receive these names should be able to do so," said Marion County Republican Director Kyle Walker.

Earlier Thursday, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita said Marion County has become "Lake County-South," a clear reference to voting problems rampant in that northwestern Indiana county bordering Chicago.

Rokita said he isn't alleging outright fraud. He said there is very little difference between having votes stolen and not being allowed to vote.

White said she is sorry Rokita feels that way and hopes he will follow through on a promise to help fix Marion County's election woes.