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ISP to make sure 'every Hoosier vote counts' despite voter fraud investigation

Posted at 2:35 PM, Oct 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-19 16:06:41-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- In the middle of a tense 56-county investigation concerning voter fraud, Indiana State Police said Wednesday it will make sure, "every Hoosier vote counts" in this election.

Thousands of Indiana voters discovered their date of birth or first name were incorrect on their registration, leading the Indiana Secretary of State to call for an investigation of voter fraud.

While it is unsure why the information was changed, ISP Superintendent Doug Carter released a statement on the urgency and importance of the investigation Wednesday afternoon.

 “Let me be clear: Among the highest priorities of the Indiana State Police is ensuring the integrity of this election and that every Hoosier vote counts.  Because of these new revelations, the magnitude of the possible fraud involved and with the election less than three weeks away, I have directed all available resources within the Indiana State Police to assist with this investigation.

A spokesman for Indiana State Police says the changing of a first name and/or date of birth, "is consistent with what we are seeing on a number of voter registration applications submitted by Project Majority USA Indiana Voter Registration Project."

Carter noted there has been strong evidence of forgery.

"Given the fact that the Statewide Voter Registration System has not been compromised, we believe the reports Secretary Lawson turned over yesterday may serve as evidence of forgery by representatives associated with the Indiana Voter Registration Project, which is a subsidiary organization of a group that calls itself Patriot Majority USA."

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In response to allegations, Indiana Voter Registration Project, a subsidiary of Patriot Majority USA, asked the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to investigate efforts by state officials to "suppress tens of thousands of African American votes."

ISP called Patriot Majority USA's claim "completely false," and said they uncovered intentional acts of fraud.

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Carter called out the way Patriot Majority USA reacted to the claims and refused to cooperate with its investigation.

“It is very important to recognize that instead of telling Hoosiers they would cooperate with our investigation and working with Indiana officials to get to the bottom of the fraud issue, Patriot Majority USA instead launched a partisan advertising campaign accusing Governor Pence of leading a ‘government attack against’ Hoosiers and the Indiana State Police of  ‘police intimidation.’"

Not everyone in Indiana thinks the changes are evidence of voter fraud.

Republican Rep. Kathy Richardson of Noblesville told the Associated Press it's common for people to update their voter registrations before an election to reflect changes to names or addresses. Her office oversees elections in Hamilton County.

You can check your current registration status online at Indianavoters.com. If your information doesn't show up, contact your local county election officials. The Secretary of State said to enter different dates of birth to try and find your record.

If your information is available, but incorrect, you'll still be able to vote on Nov. 8. You'll be able to correct your information, but the correction won't take place until 30 days after the election.

Voters with questions can call the Hoosier Voter Hotline at 1-866-IN-1-VOTE.