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Democratic party challenges Young's petitions

Posted at 11:40 PM, Feb 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-10 23:40:56-05

INDIANAPOLIS -- A fight over signatures could force a Republican candidate for Senate out of the race. 

Democrats say Rep. Todd Young failed to meet the minimum number of names to get on the May ballot. 

Democratic Party Chairman John Zody filed the challenge with the state's election division Wednesday morning. 

He claims Young is three signatures shy of the 500 needed. 

Candidates are required to get 500 signatures in each congressional district in order to appear on the ballot. 

The clerks in each county verify the signatures, then the campaign turns in the paperwork to the election division.

An independent petition count by the Secretary of State's office puts the number of signatures Young's campaign collected at 501. 

"We have to ask these questions. When it's that close, you have to look at this is a state law, this is a candidate for the U.S. Senate, and someone possibly not having done and met the minimum requirements for this race," Zody said. 

Young's campaign released a statement, calling the challenge a "political stunt." 

A spokesman says, "We are confident that at the end of the process, the Election Commission will reject the blatantly political gamesmanship of the Indiana Democrat Party."

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