Ballot Battle Popping in Indiana

Oct. 10, 2008— -- When it comes to fierce and furious battles between the security of the ballot and the eligibility of voters, Lake County, Ind., is a microcosm of the nation.

A month before the presidential election, Democrats and Republicans are facing off in the county, accusing each other of tainting the early-voting process. Indiana law allows citizens to register an absentee ballot by mail or in person.

A federal judge today will hear Democrats' claims that Republicans are trying to suppress minority votes in cities favoring their candidate, Sen. Barack Obama.

Republicans, meanwhile, charge outside of court that Democrats are filing false voter applications and trying to register dead people.

Both sides will meet today at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, where the judge will consider whether remote early-voting centers can be opened in northern Indiana cities that heavily favor Obama.

The controversy began last September when the Democrat-controlled election board in Lake County voted 3 to 2 to open additional voting places for early in-person votes in three cities with predominately minority voters.

The two Republicans on the board voted against the measure, arguing that in-person voting in the town's county seat, Crown Point, was sufficient. Crown Point is predominately white.

Upon winning the vote, the election board began plans to open voting offices in Hammond, East Chicago and Gary. Some residents there praised the vote, saying that they had wanted to vote absentee in person but felt hindered from doing so because Crown Point was 45 minutes to an hour away.

Some voters prefer to vote absentee in person because once you are at the voting center, there is less of a chance of making an error that cannot be corrected because there is someone on hand to help.

Furious Republicans went to state court and won a temporary restraining order against opening the voting places, arguing that state law requires a board to unanimously approve any satellite voting locations.