Marion County Election Board Hearing on Election Day Incident - January 21, 2025
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Marion County Election Board Hearing on Election Day Incident - January 21, 2025
On January 21, 2025, at 1:01 p.m., the Marion County Election Board held a hearing regarding an incident that occurred on Election Day, November 5, 2024, at the First Friends Quaker Church vote center. A voter entered wearing a MAGA hat and a t-shirt with Donald Trump's image, contrary to Indiana law prohibiting political campaign paraphernalia within polling places. When asked to remove the hat and turn the shirt inside out, the voter became belligerent, removed his shirt, and revealed two handguns and a knife. The hearing aimed to determine whether the voter violated state election laws. The voter was served notice but did not appear; his attorney requested a 30-day continuance. After discussion, the board recessed the hearing to a future date to allow the voter an opportunity to be heard.
Incident Details
- Date and Location: November 5, 2024, at First Friends Quaker Church, which also serves as a preschool. According to the pastor, guns are not permitted on the premises.
- Voter Behavior: Upon being asked to remove political attire, the voter became confrontational and belligerent, using curse words. He claimed he knew more about the law and accused election workers of violating the law. He refused to comply until he was allowed to vote first.
- Weapons: The voter was carrying two handguns (one exposed upon entry) and a knife. He removed his t-shirt, exposing the weapons.
- Impact on Voters and Staff: Approximately 50–60 voters were present. Some fled to a nearby kitchen, some left the polling place, and some did not return. Children were present. Poll workers reported feeling intimidated and concerned for safety.
- Response: Inspector Margot Kelly, with over 20 years of experience, followed de-escalation protocols, called police using a prepared script, and escorted the voter to a voting machine to expedite his departure. The voter then left the building but stayed in the parking lot woods until police arrived. IMPD spoke with the voter but did not arrest him.
- Aftermath: Church leadership is reconsidering allowing the facility to be used as a voting center and has enhanced security.
Discussion Items
- Director's Report: Director Patrick Becker reviewed the incident, noting that the voter was served notice on December 13, 2024. The voter greeted the process server while armed but accepted service.
- Inspector Testimony: Inspector Margot Kelly provided a detailed account, including the voter's belligerent demeanor, the presence of children, and the effectiveness of de-escalation training. She confirmed that the voter made nearly incoherent statements about audits, fraud, and undercover FBI agents. The voter placed his hat on a poll worker's head in defiance. One voter recognized the armed individual as a violent person and called police.
- Voter's Absence and Attorney's Request: Outside counsel Daniel Pulliam reported that the voter retained attorney Edward Krause on January 16, 2025. The attorney requested a 30-day continuance on January 17, citing insufficient time to review additional witness statements provided on January 20. The voter did not attend the hearing.
- Board Deliberation: Board members discussed the merits of granting an extension. Nolita Stewart (Chair) expressed interest in hearing the voter's side. Vice Chair Jennifer Ping and Secretary Kate Sweeney Bill noted the need for a fair opportunity while balancing the board's responsibility to act. The board agreed to recess the hearing to allow coordination of a new date within 30 days.
Key Outcomes
- Decision: The board recessed the hearing to a date to be determined, with the chair directing counsel to coordinate with the voter's attorney for an alternative hearing within 30 days. No formal vote was taken; the chair exercised discretion to recess.
- Next Steps: The board will reconvene in a noticed public meeting to continue the hearing. If the voter does not avail himself of the opportunity, the board will still need to make a determination regarding potential violations of Title III statutes (poll worker protection, voter protection, electioneering interference).
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. We'll kick off and call the Marion County Election Board to order here January 21st at 101 p.m. As we uh before we get started, we'll do introductions for everyone in the room and watching online. So we'll start with the board and um have staff and council introduce themselves. I'll start with myself, Nolita Stewart, Chair. Good afternoon, Jennifer Ping, Vice Chair. Kate Sweeney Bill, Secretary. Patrick Becker, Director of Elections. Daniel Pulliam, outside counsel. Brad Boswell. Adam Wicker, Corporation Council. All right. Thank you guys. Uh and welcome this afternoon. Uh today on the agenda, we're going through uh, as we said, election day incident hearing. I'll ask Director Becker for you to give a review of the incident uh to get us started. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um so uh coming off of our last meeting. Um I will provide a similar uh report and update for the board. Um so on election day, uh November 5th, 2024. A voter referenced in your materials entered the uh vote center at first friends, Quaker Church wearing a hat and t-shirt containing a photograph and campaign slogan of a candidate uh that was currently running for office. Uh it is contrary to Indiana law to wear an article of clothing that includes a name, picture, photograph, or other likeness of any candidate within the polls. When asked by an election worker to remove his hat and turn his t-shirt inside out, the voter became confrontational and belligerent. The voter removed his t-shirt, revealing two handguns and a knife on his person. Many of the individuals in the vote center were visibly upset by the interaction, and some fled to a nearby kitchen. Election workers immediately escorted the voter to the first available voting machine, waited for him to vote, and ushered him to the building's exit. Election workers also contacted Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department to report the incident. IMPD arrived on the scene, spoke to the voter, but did not arrest him. According to one witness, IMPD preser uh IMPD presence prevented voters from entering the vote center parking lot during the investigation of the incident. Because First Friends also serves as a preschool, uh guns are not allowed on the premises, according to the pastor at first to a pastor at First Friends. Uh church leadership is reconsidering allowing the facility to be used as a voting center as a result of this incident and have otherwise enhanced security around the premises of the facility. It was also reported that voters uh who are waiting in line who had not been checked in to the e poll book uh left the vote center as the incident unfolded and did not return. Some voters did have children present with them in the vote center. Um the Marion County Election Board uh had notice of today's hearing delivered to uh the voter uh in person on December 13th, 2024. Um the notice on the the notice was on Marion County Election Board letterhead and contained a fair description of the nature of the charges and the date and location of the hearing. Um the the uh service was provided and um we did get confirmation from the um service um that um the you know service was provided uh to the to the voter who uh greeted them armed and told them to leave once it was explained why they were there. Um they he accepted the service at that point. Um and I I'm happy to answer additional questions um as the board has, but that is essentially um the update that I have uh as as of the last meeting. Okay, thank you. I know in last meeting, uh just for context for everybody, we had a video. Do are we prepared to share that as part of the process again today? Okay, so we can start that video. Okay, yeah. I'm a little bit more. What's your name? I don't want to tell you my button. Wow. He's not a Trump's name. He's not pushing all the time. I believe we all have to go to the side.
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