Ballard wants Commission to Consider Campaign Finance Complaints Before Election Day
Independent Indiana Secretary of State Candidate Greg Ballard this morning filed a lawsuit in Marion County Superior Court asking the court to order the Indiana Election Commission to meet before the November 3 election to consider the four campaign finance complaints pending in the Secretary of State’s race.
Ballard issued the following statement:
“Hoosier voters deserve stronger accountability and transparency in the conduct of our elections. Today I am asking the Indiana Election Commission to meet, which it has not done since July. It is ignoring four complaints filed in the Secretary of State’s race. Early voting has already started. Traditionally, the Commission meets in September, which did not happen this year. Not meeting is an abandonment of duties.
The current makeup of the Commission is two Republicans and two Democrats. This is a system designed to fail. The two parties are protecting themselves, rather than protecting the integrity of voting and elections in Indiana. The non-action of the Indiana Election Commission, its failure to meet, and its disregard of its duty to Hoosiers is why I have taken legal action asking the Commission to convene – and the courts to ensure that happens.
We are not asking for a particular outcome; that is entirely up to the Commission, but we are asking the Commission to do its job by holding a meeting on any complaints that have been filed to date and take action well before Election Day, so voters have all the information they deserve.
Transparency and accountability are the cornerstone of rebuilding trust in the Secretary of State’s office and in our elections. To get there, the Commission should make decisions before the election and enforce campaign finance laws.
The Indiana Election Commission should convene a meeting, do its job, and get to work on behalf of Hoosier voters. I ask my fellow candidates to join me in making this request."