Counties in Pence’s home state accused of voter registration fraud

INDIANAPOLIS — Amid claims by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump of a “rigged” election, and as Hoosiers take to the polls to close out a contentious campaign season in running mate Mike Pence’s home state, some 56 Indiana counties are under suspicion of voter registration fraud.

A search warrant obtained Monday from the Marion County Superior Court by reporters from Call 6 Investigates indicates quota pressure on canvassers led to fabricated registrations.

According to Call 6 Investigations, in October the Indiana State Police received a report of misconduct by the Indiana Voter Registration Project. The project, run by the liberal-leaning Patriot Majority USA Super PAC, bussed canvassers into “historically underrepresented” neighborhoods, an IVRP employee told investigators, and paid them $50 for five-hour shifts.

After county clerks allegedly received “very sloppy” forms, dozens of voter registrations in Indiana counties were found to have missing or incorrect voter information. Other forms had signatures that didn’t match those on record, according to the news report.

According to local Indianapolis station WISH TV 8, the investigation began after state police received a call from the Hendricks County clerk Debbie Hoskins, who said she noticed problems with the signatures on “8 to 10” voter registration applications.

Patriot Majority USA, which claims it “has been publicly demonized by the highest state officials in Indiana,” called the “selective leak” of sealed court documents “both suspicious and outrageous.”

According to Linda Pence, an attorney for the Democratic strategist-founded voter registration group, the project has helped register 45,000 voters in Indiana and is a” respectable organization” that is targeted by Republicans.

An Indiana State Police spokesman said the investigation is ongoing.