Marion County Election Board Meeting - December 12, 2024
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Marion County Election Board Meeting - December 12, 2024
The Marion County Election Board convened on December 12, 2024, at 1:07 PM to address two primary agenda items: the 2024 pre-election campaign finance late filing fines and an investigation into an election day incident at a vote center. The board voted on fine reductions, adopted findings regarding the incident, and set a hearing date for the individual involved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Pam Deckert (candidate for Lawrence Township Board) appeared to request a waiver or reduction of a $550 fine for late filing of her campaign finance report. She acknowledged the oversight, attributing it to travel plans and internet issues, and apologized. The board voted to reduce her fine by half to $275.
- Carrie Harris (candidate) also appeared to contest a late filing fine. She stated she submitted her report on time via email but used an incorrect email address ("election@indy.gov" instead of "elections@indy.gov"), so the board did not receive it. She provided evidence of her attempts. The board voted to waive the fine entirely.
Discussion Items
- 2024 Pre-Election Campaign Finance Report: Director Patrick Becker presented the list of committees that were late or did not file: five candidate committees and two political action committees. Certified letters were sent. Two committees had already paid. The board heard from two candidates requesting relief. The remaining unpaid fine was for Robin Stewart (Center Township Board) and two PACs (IPS Community PAC and Pike Proud PAC). Director Becker also noted that staff will be reviewing committees for potential administrative dissolution by January 31, 2025, and reminded that campaign finance reports for committees with remaining funds are due January 18, 2025.
- Election Day Incident at First Friends Quaker Meeting Church: Director Becker presented findings of an investigation into a November 5, 2024 incident. A voter entered the vote center wearing a hat and t-shirt featuring a candidate's image and slogan, which violates Indiana law. When asked to remove them, the voter became confrontational, removed his shirt, revealing two handguns and a knife. Poll workers de-escalated by escorting him to vote and then out. IMPD was called but made no arrests. The incident caused some voters to flee and prevented entry during the investigation. The church, which also houses a preschool, prohibits guns; church leadership is reconsidering future use as a vote center and has enhanced security. The board viewed a video of the incident and expressed concern.
Key Outcomes
- Pam Deckert's fine reduced by half to $275 (motion by Kate Sweeney Bell, seconded, passed unanimously).
- Carrie Harris's fine waived (motion, seconded, passed unanimously).
- Board adopted the findings of the investigation into the election day incident and voted to provide notice to the individual involved, scheduling a hearing for January 21, 2025, at 1:00 PM.
- Staff will process potential administrative dissolution of campaign committees by January 31, 2025.
- The meeting was adjourned with the next regular meeting set for January 21, 2025, at 1:00 PM.
Additional Updates
- Director Becker and board members praised election staff for a successful election with over 350,000 votes cast, noting that the next largest county has a similar total of registered voters.
- A candidate challenge filed was deemed not properly filed and outside the board's jurisdiction; council will address correspondence.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon. Welcome everyone. I'd like to call the Marion County Election Board to order here. It is uh 107 on December 12th. Before we get started, we'll do a round of introductions for everyone in the room as well as everyone looking online. So I'll start with the board and then we'll have uh count staff and then council. Uh so starting with myself first, Nolita Stewart, Chair. Jennifer Ping, Vice Chair, Kate Sweeney Bell, Secretary Patrick Becker, Director of Elections, Adam Wicker, Office of Corporation Council. Brad Boswell, outside counsel. Daniel Pulliam, outside counsel. Maria Downham outside counsel. All right, thank you, everyone. Uh, as we get um going today, we have a couple of agenda topics. The first being the 2024 pre-election campaign finance report. Um, I know we have a couple to review here today. Director Becker, do you want to give a review of uh what's on the docket for the campaign finance report? Thank you, madam chair. Um, so as typical, um, at each election, uh, you know, there's a reporting period uh preceding each election. Um the campaign finance pre-election period um ended October the 11th, and reports were due in our office on noon October 18th. Um we had um five um candidate committees uh that were um late or did not file, and two political action committees. Um those committees were sent uh certified letters informing them of the fines and informing them that they could come and and um address the board and request a waiver or reduction, and um we had two of those uh folks that have already paid their fine. Um and I believe there uh we received information that one of the one of the candidates wanted to come in and speak before the board uh today. Um but essentially um as we've kind of covered in the past, these fines exist um by law. Um they've again been given proper notice, and and this is the opportunity for them to come and address the board. Okay. Thank you, Director Becker. For the person who is gonna be present. Do we which one is that? Do we know if there is a yeah? I think she's here. You want to allow for time for her to come. Um yeah, based on the the policy that this board has previously um you know passed uh effective of April of this year, is that anybody that that requests a waiver reduction must appear in person. Um and so I believe this uh individual has taken that opportunity. Um and she's welcome to come up to the front here and and speak to the board. Okay. Is there a mic over there? Uh just if you edit the table here, there should be a microphone. Oh, okay. I'm loud anyway. Hi, I think Pam Decker. Uh I did want to come and ask for a waiver and also just apologize for a complete oversight in submitting my report in a timely manner. I knew it was due. You guys called me and told me it was due. I was I'll be perfectly and completely honest. I was trying to get out of town for fall break. I was trying to get in the car with my son, I was trying to get work done. Internet in my neighborhood kept going on and off. I had a state one that I did, and I had that one sitting there. I had it attached, and I didn't do it, and I just wanted to come and say apologize. It was I didn't accept, you know, I didn't take any money in.
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