Grand jury to investigate Lake County election fraud

CROWN POINT, Ind. -- A criminal court judge has ordered a special grand jury to investigate election fraud in Lake County.\nJudge Thomas P. Stefaniak Jr. ordered a group of potential grand jurors to serve a term of six months and hear testimony from witnesses behind closed doors.\nProsecutor Bernard Carter, who in June called for an investigation of alleged voting fraud in East Chicago and Schererville elections, said he will meet Tuesday with state officials to begin the investigation process.\nCarter said he expects criminal charges to result from the grand jury investigation.\n"We're going to be extremely aggressive with anyone who broke any election laws, who intimidated anyone or who manipulated the election or judicial process," Carter said.\nThe investigation focuses on the race for town judge in Schererville and the mayor's race in East Chicago. In both cases, the challengers filed legal complaints alleging voter fraud in counting absentee ballots.\n"It is important to us that there be a thorough investigation," said Cam Savage, spokesman for Secretary of State Todd Rokita. "We're concerned that if these kinds of accusations go unpunished, the problem will only get worse and will ultimately lead to a lack of faith in the entire election process."\nA state representative who leads a caucus of northwest Indiana lawmakers has urged the Lake County prosecutor to clean up "blatant vote fraud" in county elections.\nIn a letter dated Aug. 5, Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, also offered to strengthen absentee voting laws so that the penalties for "taking advantage of voters in the town of Schererville" become severe enough to deter further actions of fraud.\nBrad King, director of the Indiana Election Division, said illegally receiving an absentee ballot from a voter is a class D felony punishable by a maximum of $10,000, three years in prison or both.\nCurrent law on absentee vote applications can lead to court debate over perjury charges, King said.\n"It's a question of what the person is swearing to," King said.\nThe ballot requires the voter to swear that they reside in the precinct, at the address stated, and are a registered voter. King said state lawmakers could clarify by extending the sworn information to the whole form, and they could increase the penalties for existing offenses.