Clark County, Indiana – On Tuesday the county election board decided that a recount was unnecessary after voting‑machine malfunctions at Jeffersonville High School on Election Day. The glitches forced poll workers to record some voter names by hand, raising concerns about the close margins in the state Senate race and the county auditor’s race.
Board vote and legal arguments
Board members Ryan Lynch, a Republican clerk, and Tony Singleton, also a Republican, voted to approve resolutions stating a recount was not required. “We had some malfunctions on election morning, but at this point, I didn’t see a statistical basis to move forward with this,” Lynch said. “I don’t ever want to take the easy route if there’s a chance that it goes against the law. I couldn’t get a clear answer from the state as to whether or not it went against the law.”
Republican attorney Ted Nolting, representing state Sen. Chris Garten, argued that the board lacks authority to open sealed ballots. “We got notice that the election board intended to count ballots, which in our view is illegal. They don’t have the authority to count ballots that are sealed,” Nolting said. He added that all votes appear to have been accounted for and that the precinct poll books can verify the totals.
Democratic perspective
Democratic board chairman Andrew Steele suggested a recount could be conducted without compromising ballot secrecy. “One side was basically saying, under no circumstances can you touch those ballots. But the statute also orders the board to basically make sure that they canvass and tabulate,” Steele explained. He proposed feeding the ballots back into the machine to see if the results matched the tape, which would answer lingering questions.
Attorney Mickey Weber, who plans to represent the Clark County Democratic Party if it files a formal contest, emphasized the importance of accuracy. “Everybody who came out and cast a vote on Election Day deserves to know that their vote was counted, and that it was attributed to the candidate that they came out and voted for,” Weber said.
Next steps
The candidates retain the right to contest the results or request a recount through the courts. Clark County must certify its election results next week, and the board will continue to monitor any legal challenges.
While the board’s decision reflects the current legal guidance from Indiana’s bipartisan election division, the differing interpretations underscore the need for clear statutory language on how to handle machine failures and sealed‑ballot procedures. Both parties agree that voter confidence is paramount, and the board’s stance aims to balance legal compliance with the public’s expectation of accurate results.
Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.
