INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County may have federal eyes on its upcoming midterm election.
The Marion County Election Board said it received notice on Oct. 21 that the U.S. Department of Justice plans to send election monitors to the county on Election Day to observe election processes for federal law compliance.
Marion County is one of only two counties in Indiana to receive the designation — the other being Lake County.
Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell says the board was given little explanation for the decision.
“We were not informed as to who or what prompted this unique status,” said Clerk Sweeney Bell. “We were not told what criteria was used to make this determination, and we do not know why the Department of Justice chose these two specific counties in this election cycle in this particular state.”
The board has not been told exactly what the monitors will do on Election Day beyond observing the process.
The Election Board said it recently approved a new policy instructing poll workers on how to handle interactions with DOJ officials and federal agents. Poll workers have also been trained to prepare for those interactions.
“Election integrity is paramount, and it means ensuring every legally registered voter who would like to cast a ballot is able to,” Clerk Sweeney Bell said. “It also means using every legal tool at our disposal to ensure no voter is intimidated or disrupted in the voting process — by anybody– as protected by state and federal law.”
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
“Out of 92 counties in Indiana, Trump’s DOJ has chosen two counties with the largest populations of Democratic voters and Black and Hispanic voters to subject to ‘election monitoring.’ It’s no coincidence. It’s also no coincidence that it comes just weeks before an election, when Trump has record low poll numbers. It follows multiple, illegal attempts to change election procedures for his benefit, from a president who still maintains the 2020 election was stolen.
“Our elections in Marion County are still run by the clerk, who is elected by Marion County voters. I’m urging everyone to vote as soon as possible – you can vote early at the City-County Building now or at additional locations starting this weekend, which can be found at vote.indy.gov.
“There are so many threats to our right to vote because of how powerful our vote is. Make your voice heard—vote now.”
U.S. Rep. André Carson, D-Ind.
