An investigation into the potential filing of fraudulent voter application information has expanded from two Indiana counties to nine.
Indiana State Police said detectives obtained a search warrant for business offices of the Indiana Voter Registration Project, which span the counties of Hendricks, Marion, Allen, Delaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Johnson, Lake and Madison.
The search warrant was served Tuesday morning.
The investigation into the Indiana Voter Registration Project began in August after allegations that fraudulent records may have been filed, possibly disenfranchising several voters.
With the investigation’s expansion, authorities believe the total of potentially fraudulent records “may be in the hundreds.”
Authorities said the investigation indicates the false information filed is a “combination of made up names and made up addresses, real names with made up or incorrect addresses and false dates of births with real names as well as combinations of all these examples.”
“Victims of the activities by some agents of the Indiana Voter Registration Project may not discover they have been disenfranchised from voting until they go to vote and realize their voting information has been altered,” state police said in a statement. “Such action may result in the citizen having to cast a provisional ballot.”
Local
The investigation is “complex,” police said, and could take several more weeks, possibly even months, to complete.
News of the investigation's expansion precedes Tuesday's vice presidential debate, involving Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Kaine.
Voters are being urged to check their information and ensure they are properly registered at https://indianavoters.in.gov. If information listed on the site is inaccurate, potential victims should contact their local voter registration office and the 24-hour Indiana State Police Voter Registration Application Fraud tip line at (888) 603-3147.
