Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita Comments on Criminal Indictment in Delaware County Absentee Vote Fraud Investigation

Contact: Jim Gavin
317-233-8655
Media@sos.in.gov

Apparent violations of Indiana Election Law first addressed by Secretary Rokita's office during 2007 recount lead to Grand Jury indictment unsealed this week

(Indianapolis) – Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, who serves as Indiana's chief election official, says he's glad justice may finally be served in an absentee vote fraud case he first brought to the Delaware County prosecutor following the 2007 municipal election. This week, a grand jury indicted Muncie city councilman and firefighter Monte Murphy on nine counts of illegally receiving ballots in the 2007 municipal election. The indictment was unsealed Thursday following an 18-month investigation.

"I'm pleased that local and state law enforcement, as well as the members of the grand jury themselves, have acted on the alarms we first sounded after the 2007 election," said Secretary Rokita. "We continually hear from citizens in Delaware County and across the state concerned that oftentimes very little is done after elections are complete to follow up on vote fraud concerns and to protect the integrity of our elections. I applaud Attorney General Greg Zoeller and Prosecutor Mark McKinney for moving this case forward."

Evidence of absentee vote fraud surfaced during the recount that followed the 2007 mayoral race in Muncie. Secretary Rokita and his investigators spent several weeks following up on numerous complaints, ultimately calling on Delaware County officials to pursue a criminal investigation.

For more specific information, please contact Jim Gavin at 317.233.8655 or mailto:jgavin@sos.in.gov.

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