I'm going to try to make me but I need a council I just wanted to show up to show that I'm going to show us so I can take your hand.

Pretty good process.

All right, folks, we're gonna get started if we could have a seat.

If you are a challenged candidate or you are a challenger and you have not signed in up here, we need you to sign in before you're allowed to speak on any of these topics.

And we'll get started here in just a moment.

Challengers or challenged candidates or speaking on behalf of a candidate, you need to sign in up here at the front, please.

If everyone can take a seat, we'll get started.

Speaking to the mic.

If everyone can take their seats, we're gonna begin the meeting.

Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats right now.

We're gonna start the meeting.

If you have business, you can conduct it in the hallway.

This is Friday, February 20th, 2026.

My name is Ann O'Connor.

I am proxy for Nolita Stewart, who's chair of the board.

It was not available today.

I'll have the other members introduce themselves.

Oh, sorry.

Um Vice Chair Joseph B.

I'm Kate Sweeney Bell, Secretary.

Thank you.

Before we get started, I want to make sure we're all informed about today's meeting.

Um in accordance with the Indiana open door law and in the spirit of good government.

The board is committed to holding an open and transparent meeting for the public to observe.

To facilitate that, in accordance with the board's authority under Indiana statute, the board is setting forth rules for public comment at today's meeting.

To allow for sufficient time to focus on today's challenge hearings, the board will only entertain public discussion or comments within the due course of the challenge hearings, and only from those individuals or their representatives that are a party to a specific challenge and only discussion related to the underlying facts of the specific challenge.

However, when we get to the challenge hearings, if you are a party to a challenge with a relevant procedural question, you're welcome to request clarification at the appropriate time.

Any questions or concerns you may have otherwise for the election board may be submitted via uh writing via email at elections at indie.gov by mail or in person here at the election board's city county building office on the first floor.

Thank you.

At this point, I'd like to move to item two on our agenda, contract approvals, and I'll defer to Patrick Becker.

Thank you, uh Madam Chair.

The uh first contract that is up for um your approval um I hope that we're it's this one in your in your packet.

Elite Security Um is a contract that we um it's a three-year term um for this is a contract, the service is um armed law enforcement, uh off-duty law enforcement to provide uh 24 hour security at our election service center.

Um these uh the times that they provide security are around uh our election time.

So uh it picks up um at the end of February uh here and then it goes through May and then picks up again um at the end of August and goes through November.

So it is not uh the service is not being provided for the full year.

It is only being provided during those two uh the two different election cycles for the next three years.

Elite Security is a previous vendor of ours.

They've been providing security at our facility um, I believe since 2023.

Um this contract is a result of an RFP that we did with the purchasing department um last year.

Um and uh this is the uh the awarded um vendor.

Um so it's a three-year term.

Um and the not to exceed um on this is 1.5 million dollars over those three years.

And I'm happy to answer any questions uh that the board has.

I just have one question.

How many companies responded to the RFP?

I believe it was six or seven, I think it was six total.

Does anyone have any other questions for Patrick?

No, ma'am.

Great, and then I uh at this point then I'd entertain a motion to approve the services agreement with elite security LLC.

Uh I move approval of this contract.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

The agreement has been approved.

Thank you.

The next one is for um uh election systems and software.

Um ESNS is also what they are known as here.

Um so this is a uh amendment to a previous um contract that we had for three years that expired.

Uh I guess it was a little less than four years uh from 2022 through 2020, uh, January 26th.

So uh this is an amendment to um continue uh the those services with our current election system.

Um so this is the same software that we've been using, the same hardware.

This is not an upgrade, this is just an amendment to continue services for the next three years until we we have future plans.

Um again, happy to answer any questions.

Um the um sorry.

I'm trying to quickly find the not to exceed.

Um I believe it was also um I'm not I don't have it right in front of me.

Um the um sorry I'm trying to quickly find the not to exceed um I believe it was also wasn't um I'm not I don't have it right in front of me um I believe that this agreement is um an amendment to the first one that um the the pricing is all listed in here um by year um I'm don't know that we have a not to exceed on the on the front page of this but um as you move through there's um each exhibit kind of gives you the total um the total amount for each of the the different services that they provide by year uh I I have a point for clarification um director Becker is this has this been approved uh through uh any other agency yes so the purchasing department has um agreed to it a contract amendment um for this this is a um it is a a unique service the original contract was done through an RFP um so the uh purchasing uh department was a appropriate comfortable with a three year amendment and OCC is also approved uh reviewed and approved this um amendment as well so it's got lawyer approval and purchasing approval yes okay thank you hearing no other questions or comments I'd entertain a motion to approve the first amendment to uh the contract with election systems and software LLC I move approval of this contract second been moved and seconded all those in favor say aye aye aye aye the contract is approved next we'll move on to resolution three twenty six concerning opposed party candidates working the polls and I'll again uh defer now to Patrick Becker.

Thank you madam chair this is resolution 03-26 um a similar resolution was passed in 2024 uh by this board uh what this allows is um folks that are running for party offices that are in contested races um so where they will appear on the ballot for a contested precinct committee um race or a state convention delegate race uh it allows them to also uh work um as poll workers uh so typically state law says that if you're on the ballot that you cannot uh work and be in a place where ballots are being uh tabulated um what this resolution does is it allows um those that are um running for party offices that are on the ballot that are in those contested races to serve as precinct officers um in for the election board so that is uh election day at the vote center being able to work as a clerk or uh an inspector um and this resolution expires uh at the end of this year so this would be uh really just for the primary election um is the only time that it's really applicable does anyone have any questions comments on the resolution uh can you explain if this has happened before if if a resolution of this uh a similar resolution has uh been approved by this board before yes so most recently was the 2024 primary um where we did approve this resolution um and again the the thought is that we don't want to close off any of these people that want to get engaged to be poll workers so um if they want to be poll workers we would love for them to come work for us as well so great thank you yeah thank you um at this time I would entertain a motion to approve resolution three-26 concerning poll workers um who appear on the ballot being um poll workers in the primary I move approval of resolution 03-26 second I have a motion and a second all those in favor aye aye resolution is passed now move on to the next item and before we do um on the challenge hearings I do want to make a statement then I'm gonna turn it over to Brad Boswell who's our um election board counsel first of all I want to clarify the role of the board in this process first neither the election board board members board staff board counsel or any other board representatives have a role in which candidates get challenged under Indiana code 3-8-1-2 a challenge may come from a registered voter of the election district that the candidate seeks to represent or to a county chairman of a major political party of a county in which any part of the election district is located second under the same code section once a challenge is made the board's task is to determine whether or not the challenge candidate has met the requirements to seek the office filed for and under statute shall deny a candidate filing if the election board determines that the candidate has not complied with the applicable requirements for the candidate set forth in the Constitution of the U.S.

Second, under the same code section, once a challenge is made, the board's task is to determine whether or not the challenge candidate has met the requirements to seek the office filed for, and under statute shall deny a candidate filing if the election board determines that the candidate has not complied with the applicable requirements for the candidate set forth in the constitution of the U.S.

and the Constitution of the State of Indiana or Indiana law.

Third, the election board must conduct conduct this task by applying facts to law.

If the board finds the facts show a candidate has met the legal requirements to seek the respective office, the challenge will be overruled.

However, if the board finds the facts show a candidate has not met the legal requirements to seek the respective office, the challenge will be upheld.

Before we move forward, are there any other comments from board members?

No ma'am.

Now I'm going to ask board counsel to provide a description of the proceeding for these hearings.

So with that, I'll kind of run through the way we're going to do this.

So we're going to call out the names of the candidate challengee and that candidate's challenger, and that'll be done over here.

And then I'm going to ask if the uh those individuals or representatives of them are present.

And if they are, then they'll be invited forward to come up here.

And if not, then we'll just go straight to to the board.

But if they're if you if folks are here, they can come on up.

Once uh everyone's sort of settled, uh the hearing for that particular challenge will begin with the election board staff, which is Patrick, uh speaking first to provide some context and background information to the board about any documents that have already been provided to the board, including the candidate challenge forms, uh what notice was given to the parties, um, any documents that were sent ahead of time, etc.

Next, the challenger or uh the challenger's representative will be recognized for two minutes to present their challenge right here at the podium.

Uh then the challengee or their representative will be recognized and given two minutes to present evidence and response.

Finally, uh, because the burden of proof is on the challenger, the challenger will have an optional uh one-minute rebuttal limited to the issues raised in the challenge's response.

If a presenter wishes to introduce any documents or other physical evidence that's not been previously received by the board or board staff, then that evidence must be presented and provided to both the board and opposing party uh for an opportunity to review, and that evidence uh or copy of it needs to be provided to board staff today for the purposes of preserving the record.

Uh if during uh uh party's designated presentation time there is a procedural question relevant to that specific challenge, the party may ask for a clarification from myself or board staff or the board, uh the time asked to ask that procedural question will not count against your presentation time.

However, in the interest of time overall, repeat questions applicable to all parties will not be continually entertained once asked and answered.

If not all questions, oh, and not all questions presented may be able to be answered.

Um, but we'll do our best to answer questions that are within the appropriate parameters of the board.

Further, if at any time during a presentation uh the board decides they need to stop and ask a party a question, it may do so.

Uh and that time for questions won't count against the party's time.

Staff uh right here, Brent will have a clock, um, which is just it'll be his phone, but you'll be able to see it showing you how much time that you have left.

Um if you go over that time, um, I'll take the role of ceasing the presentations if we need to, but I ask everybody to respect that.

If the board decides, hey, they were kind of in the middle of saying something that was important, the board can say, go ahead and go ahead and finish.

We want to hear you out.

After the presentations have finished, the board may ask further questions of the presenters on either side.

Um, they may ask questions of staff, they may ask questions of of me.

Uh, they may enter entertain a motion to adjudicate the challenge at that point, or entertain a motion to table the challenge at a time to be determined later by the board.

Um, are there any questions for the board for me?

No.

Okay.

Okay, so we'll get started.

Um, so the first thing that I wanted to um bring to the board's attention.

Um, so as uh folks have been signing in, um, you know, we're trying to keep track of of who's here um and who is um wanting to speak to the board.

Um so we'll be trying to keep track of that as we go.

Um I wanted to inform the board that um yesterday received a list of um candidates from um the democratic party where they wish to withdraw those challenges.

Um so I wanted to um uh offer to the board uh kind of how they wanted to proceed, uh, whether we wanted to deal with withdrawn challenges first.

It's also my understanding from staff that as folks are coming, they are withdrawing or are wanting to sort of not contest the uh challenge.

So um at the board's discretion, we can start however you would like.

Um but um what's in front of you is a list that is broken up into a few different sections.

Uh the first is what we're calling our CAN 2 challenges.

So a CAN 2 form is a candidate's form for an elected office.

Um, and those are a different set of rules out of Title III that are applied uh than the ones that are the CAN 37, which are the party offices.

So the sheet that's in front of you is broken out into those separate um types of candidates.

Um, but I wanted to pause here and and allow the board to ask any questions or or let us know how you'd like to proceed.

So I take we're going with the can two challenges first, correct?

Unless you'd like to deal with the withdrawn challenges first.

Well, I wondered if you might might administratively be easier to know who we know has either withdrawn their challenge or withdrawn their contest of that challenge, and that way our universe will be known.

Yeah, the way that the list is presented to you, uh the back page has the withdrawn challenges that came from party, and so those are now are not on the CAN two or CAN 37 lists.

They've been removed from those lists um already.

Um so we just kind of separated those as a category in case the board wanted to deal with them separately.

And technically there's nothing really to deal with, like the they've been withdrawn, they're done.

I think it's more of just putting the board on notice, they've been withdrawn.

Okay, are any of these are any of these individuals here to to your knowledge?

Uh say we might want to give that, we might want to announce it, but there's no action the board needs to take.

Um I believe some of them have um arrived.

I'm doing my best to uh cross-reference this.

Um if the board would like, I can I can read through the names of the challenge, uh the the withdrawn challenges, the name in the office, if that would uh be helpful to the board, and then anybody that's here that um wants to speak, they could, or anybody that's here they would be aware.

That's that that seems reasonable.

Like the make sure that we cover that as part of the business so that it's right.

And I apologize, these are not in any specific order.

As I mentioned, I was kind of working on this late last night, pulling these out.

Um so I'll just go in the order that we have these on the list.

Uh the first is uh candidate Carlos Bailey for um Democratic Delegate District 38.

Second is Charlotte Hyatt for Democratic State Convention uh District 38.

The uh next one is Thomas Jeffers, um Democratic State Convention Delegate 42, Brianna Bible, uh Democratic PC and Perry 22, Madison Whitcomb, Democratic State Convention Delegate District 31, Tracy Schilling for Democratic Precinct Committee person in Center 05, as well as State Convention Delegate District 37, Christian Floyd, Democratic State Convention Delegate District 52.

Diane Sassini, said Chicini, I apologize.

For Democratic Precinct Committee person, Washington 76, Rita Fleck, Democratic State Convention Delegate, District 19, Dylan Minor, Democratic State Convention Delegate 24.

Um H.

Uh Kimball, I apologize.

Uh Center 59, as well as state convention delegate district 43.

So those were the withdrawals that were sent to us yesterday afternoon by party.

Um so we did remove those from the challenge list that that is in front of you.

And did you say that others showed up and through it this morning?

Um yes.

Um sorry.

Um I believe it it appears to be most of the folks that were um yeah, that those are all the folks, not not all of them have shown up here, but I believe some of the folks were here uh that had already signed in.

But those are all the folks that were withdrawn.

Okay.

For the no and if you'd like, I can uh we can start with the CAN 2 challenges.

That sounds reasonable.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um so first we have um on our list is um the challenger is uh Arthur Rowley and the uh candidate is Carlos Bailey.

Um this is an office I apologize.

No Marcus Right.

Oh, I apologize.

I that was the wrong line.

Sorry.

Uh the the challenger is Arthur Rowley and the candidate is Marcus Ragland.

I apologize.

Um the office uh is the Pike Township Constable.

Um see if they're here.

Um they are here.

They are yes, so we're Arthur and Marcus want to come down or their representatives.

And if you want, you can just kind of take a spot on either side of the podium there while um Patrick dives in, and then uh we'll call you in just a moment.

And then yeah, continuing the the reason listed for the challenge is an unknown primary uh ballot in 2018.

Um staff research shows that um in the 2022 uh primary uh the candidate polled the democratic ballot in the 1820 primary, it is marked as unknown.

Um and then there's previous primary history there as well.

Um I'm happy to answer any questions from staff if you have any.

If there's no questions, we can go for yes to the challenger.

So actually, I have a question.

Okay.

Uh if you could uh Mr.

Boswell Um that in Title 3 uh explain what that uh statute says.

Yeah, no problem.

So that is under 38 27 A4, and it says that in the last two primaries in which you voted in Indiana, you need to show that you voted for the party uh in which you are uh seeking the nomination of.

I can read it verbatim when I find it here in just a second.

There we go.

A statement of the candidate's party affiliation.

For purposes of this subdivision, a candidate is considered to be affiliated with a political party only if the following applies.

The two most recent primary elections in Indiana in which the candidate voted were primary elections held by the party in which the candidate claims affiliation.

If the candidate cost cast a nonpartisan ballot at the election held at the most recent primary election for which the candidate voted, a candidate may be the county, a can a clarification by the county chairman under clause B is required.

And clause B says that a county chairman of the political party with which the candidate claims affiliation and the county in which the candidate resides certifies that the candidate is a member of the political party.

Thank you.

Um Madam Chair, may I say a clarifying question?

Yes.

Council, um, can we put that into non-lawyer words and say the last two most recent primaries that the person voted in?

In Indiana.

In Indiana.

Yes.

Thank you.

Or certification from your county chair.

Correct.

But not the last two primaries, but the last two that the voter actually voted in.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Any other questions before we proceed?

No, ma'am.

Thank you.

Well, uh challenger, Mr.

Rowley.

Yes, I am Arthur Rowley, and I am challenging uh Marcus Allen on his voting record from 2018, where it was put anonymously and he didn't declare a party.

I'm sorry, I didn't hear your last words.

The word I'm challenging the 2018 of Marcus Allen, where he did not declare a party in the primary election.

Okay, he put anonymous.

Okay, thank you.

Hi, uh Nicola Mindenhall here on behalf of Marcus.

Uh we I'll be able to put an appearance later on.

Um, but he asked for um some legal assistance here.

Um Mr.

Marcus is certain that he voted Democrat in the uh 2018 election.

He is uncertain and does not know why there are issues with the the records and documentation in the system.

Um he is here and willing to swear that he has only voted Democrat um since 2020 and throughout the history of his voting record, as you can tell, although we don't know why um and do there was some sort of paperwork error of his 2018 election showing as unknown.

Um, if you see for the other previous primary elections, is only shown as a a Democrat uh ballot um even in prior 2011 history.

Would you like to add anything?

Um, pretty much uh like I say it was a paper ballot.

Uh so when I have a go in and and do the voting, they they didn't either mark it or they did or the computer just didn't pick it up.

But I've been Democrat for my since I was able to vote.

So I'm already Democrat across the board, and half my record just shows all Democrat.

So I don't know what happened on this error right here.

But it's clearly a clinical error with the paperwork.

I I have a question.

Did you go to voter registration to try to?

I mean, I know that we don't keep records forever.

I I did uh they said it was a paper book ballot and they couldn't have no way to proven at that particular time.

So that's reasonable because I asked for that, and uh upstairs told me that they have a way of proving it.

It would that was last year we had paper poll books.

He says last year, yes, ma'am.

And uh under Indiana Code, just so everyone can know uh until unless and until that uh new legislation, uh the retention period for that is 22 months, so those no longer exist.

Is that in our credit statement director Becker?

Yes, ma'am.

Um I do have a question for you, Director Becker.

Uh when there is uh notice that the vote is unknown.

Can you tell me what that means?

So I I would also allow my folks, my colleagues in VR to clarify anything I mistake, but um generally when you're processing the paper poll book, um you're scanning a barcode next to that person's name and indicating what party.

Now I can't speak to what happened in Mr.

Raglan's you know circumstance, but it could be that um there a mark was not made on the poll book but he was signed the poll book and still given a ballot.

It could be that um the voter registration office for whatever reason when staff was processing that um did not um was not able to determine which ballot was picked.

Um so again with the paper poll books, you would have marked a little box and and signed your name, um, and then the the clerk would have handed you a ballot in in that form of voting.

Um so the the record showing that he showed up to vote implies that he would have had to choose a poll uh a ballot to tell the clerk which ballot to select.

Um whether or not that got recorded correctly or transferred to the voter registration database, I think is the question at at hand.

So uh uh a scrivener's error, so to speak.

I could not say he did not get a democratic ballot because we don't know.

I have a question.

Did you seek a certification from the Marion County Democratic Party Chair?

Just a curiosity.

Yeah, you I seek one uh no ma'am because I figure it's it's a conflict of interest with that situation between the the the chair and uh the the one is the bringing charges and yes and that's the that's the alternative way to get in on the ballot.

That's I'm just asking uh because that is one other way that the law allows someone to despite not making the last two primaries clearly as a Democrat, and you may vote a Democrat, we don't have any proof of that anymore.

That's the that's the issue.

But I just out of curiosity, I wondered if you went to the county chair to seek that.

No, ma'am.

Okay.

Yes.

Uh so I mean evidently I was I was there and I did the the ballot because if it if it wasn't there, it wouldn't show anything on there.

So evidently I was so just blank, but since it's so unknown, I was there and I took it and I did the ballot, and when they gave me the ballot, I went to the machine and did what I was supposed to do.

So I evidently I was actually there in 2018 and I did the polls.

Thank you.

Mr.

Raoult, or I think we're are we at time, Bray?

I pause there for questions.

Oh, okay.

Um all right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I we I just did want to supplement with further uh uh information for the record.

The uh 2008 primary he voted Democrat.

2011 primary he voted Democrat.

Um it's the 2018 that's unknown, and in 2022 he voted Democrat in the primary.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Rowley, would you care to take your rebuttal?

Yes, I'm not sure what the conflict of interest is, and I would just want some clarification on how you voted in 2018.

Did you want to answer that, Mr.

Raglan?

How did you vote in 2018?

Voted Democrated ma'am.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, no more questions or presentation.

We can proceed to our discussion.

Uh I don't have any questions, but I am prepared to uh make a motion that I would like to explain.

Sure.

Um I am uh going to vote to um reject the challenge, and the reason being I am familiar with this section that says unknown.

Uh and if that is not an error on the part of uh the voter, that is an error on the part of either uh the board of voter registration or the poll worker if if a box wasn't checked, and not knowing uh we do have your testimony, sir.

However, uh, if we don't know that what uh our attorney said we are supposed to consider, and this is my understanding, is that um the last two primaries in which the person voted, and since we cannot know, even with your testimony, uh we cannot know.

We look at 22 and 2011 according to this, and uh because of those, I'm going to vote to reject the challenge.

So your motion is to the reject to reject the challenge.

Uh Vice Chair Ping, do you have anything to add?

Um nothing to add except for I'm um I'm I'm I'm glad for technology because we don't have to worry about those paper poll books anymore.

So on these errors ever again.

So um I second um Madam Secretary's motion to reject the challenge.

And a second, all those in favor of the motion say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

The challenge is rejected.

Good.

Thank you.

The next on our CAN 2 uh challenges, and I did want to also clarify for the board and the public, we are taking these in the order that the candidate challenge was filed with our office.

Um so that one was filed February 9th, this next one is filed February 12th.

All of the others were filed on February 13th, which was the deadline day.

Um this challenge uh from February 12th.

The challenger is Jatoya Jones.

The candidate is uh Carlos.

I thought that was withdrawn.

This is a different one.

Uh this is for the yeah, I'm sorry, this is for a different office.

Yeah, I apologize.

So the candidate uh is Carlos Bailey, and um I believe both of those individuals are here.

Um the um the office is for the center township constable.

Um, and the uh reason for the challenge is uh party affiliation or vote history.

Um staff and voter registration research shows that um there's a 2020 primary democratic ballot polled and a 2016 Republican ballot polled Miss Jones Good morning.

Um party rules require that a candidates must be voted um must have voted in a recent democratic primary or be certified by their county chair, and he mr.

Bailey does not appear to have voting in the most recent Democratic Party primary, sorry, and has not been certified by the county by the county party chair.

Thank you.

Mr.

Baylor.

Um yes, so uh after I pull my um actually I filed for um for my candidacy, and um I actually I went and I pulled my voting history to make sure I was compliant.

I've been communicating with the chair, the um the chair lady for the Democratic Party, and I realized that um I'm not sure, but I pulled our uh a Republican ballot at one point.

I'm not sure that that happened, but it happened on the paper ballot.

So uh actually I requested a waiver, and um the they said they'd meet and they decided not going to give me a waiver, and um so eventually I um I went to the state level and I got a waiver there because I've been an active Democratic Party worker, poll worker for many years.

Um I worked several uh polling sites on as I get off work I'll go to several polling sites and be a poll worker, and I got my um democratic watcher card here for all the the times I did this, and I think I'll you know I'll deserve a waiver for the for the card for the democrat for the Republican vote that I said I put which I I always vote Democrat, I'm not sure or why is that showing Republican yes, yes.

So when he went to get the uh waiver, uh his local proceed committee, man, whoever issue please tell us who you are.

Oh, I'm Larry Snarum is advocate and part of his committee.

And with the with the waiver that he applied for that was having a difficult time at his local precinct, he looked at the rules, contacted the state, and apparently waivers can are statewide, they're not down to the precinct committee.

So I hope you would look at that.

So he did was granted a waiver for where's that other waiver?

Who issued that waiver?

Okay.

Yeah, if I could uh madam chair, so we did receive a waiver from so he got a waiver signed and dated from the and Democratic Hendricks County, yes, that's correct.

So the Hendricks County Democratic Chair is gonna waive you into an office in Marion County.

Because they obviously have the Democratic worker or work.

Oh, I see.

I see.

So that's a poll watcher.

She was a Democratic poll watcher during that election.

Sure.

And so he was working during that time on the polls for the Democrats.

Okay.

For the Democrats.

So I'd like to, you know, I know it gets kind of complicated, and your job is certainly complicated.

But you know, this the state Democratic Party, one of its goals is to watch out for the citizens of Indiana, make sure they get their voice heard, and uh also to do to exercise discretion in how to look out for the citizens and the Democratic Party.

So he's been working at the Democratic Party forever.

This one was a administrative mess up with the ballot, but he was working a Democratic poll on that election, and we have the paperwork and that sign.

So I think this should be this waiver should be accepted, or however the rules are for your committee to accept that as a waiver and to let him be on the ballot and let the citizens of and the Democrats in Marion County choose who they want on the free and open election.

She did go office, she has a question.

Oh okay.

Right.

Um and Mr.

Boswell, can you reiterate three-eight-two-seven?

The is it the county chair of the any county or county chair of the county in which you want to be a candidate?

The county chairman of the county in which the candidate resides.

And you reside in Mary County, correct?

Mr.

Mayor the election I reside in Hendrix County, but I moved here a year ago.

I mean work in America.

This is clearly relative to the time at which they're applying to be or filing to be a candidate.

Okay.

Now without the time, I didn't.

Um Director Becker, does the statewide voter registration system if if someone moves from one uh county to another or with within the state, is there uh does that record follow them?

Yes, so within the statewide voter registration system, your vote history would transfer with your registration record to different counties.

So for example, when I lived in Monroe County and voted that that record is still on my vote history.

Um and so there's a a registration history that exists within SBRS, the statewide voter registration system, and a vote history, and as long as your your um registration has been transferred to a new uh county, um all of that history remains with that record.

Thank you.

So what what the records that the research showed um both from the board of voter registration and uh election board staff show that um that Mr.

Bailey uh did vote Democrat in 2020 and uh but shows a Republican ballot in 2016, no other votes, correct?

Primary votes is correct, yeah.

Thank you.

And he did work the democratic poll with on that election where he was given the wrong ballot, Miss Jones.

Would you like to use your rebuttal time?

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, no, okay.

She waived that, so back to you.

Um Madam Chair, I see that um there's a uh uh again the same topic, but it but a different challenger.

Uh counsel, do we take these separately or together?

Um you have to take them each one separately, okay and uh for um Mr.

Bailey's counsel here has provided us the um watcher card um chair eldridge um for the 22 election but he didn't vote in 22 yeah and if I could clarify it's the it's a democratic watcher credential for the November the November 8th 2022 election um but yeah that is not um that's not his was in his vote history so I guess what I want to discuss what the board is can a waiver from Hendricks County which I assume you have that written document I mean I believe the statute says it's the county chair of the county in which you're seeking office, yes ma'am okay you did say you had a waiver at the state level.

credential for the November the November 8th 2022 election um but yeah that is not um that's not his was in his vote history so I guess what I want to discuss what the board is and a waiver from Hendricks County which I assume you have that written document I mean I believe the statute says it's the county chair of the county in which you're seeking office yes ma'am okay you did say you had a waiver at the state level did you mean Hendricks County okay all right thank you and under the state democratic party one of their main things is to exercise such discretionary powers as may be necessary and proper in the interest of the citizens of Indiana and of the Democratic Party that's on their ethics list for what that is so there's always going to be exceptions but we're looking out for the Democratic Party and free election so that's what I would say even with discretion you could do that but that's what I'm looking for staff or council have anything else to add obviously in this case your job is to um apply the statute for the facts to the statute and you're um not the Indiana Democratic Party correct all right any further discussion or is there a motion uh I move to uphold the challenge uh of this candidate uh for the um position of center township constable uh based on the facts presented to us on the voting history I second the upheld got a motion and a second um any further discussion I'll take a vote all those in favor say aye aye aye aye the challenge is accepted is that the right word upheld upheld okay we haven't done one yet so we have to do this the same individual yes right we have to keep a copy for the um how do you want to do that Patrick when we need to preserve the record can staff make a copy for them somehow yeah down in the office okay is someone down there can you take this to the first so madam chair the uh the next challenge is the same candidate for the same office uh with a different challenger yes uh so I I don't if the board I don't know that there uh the board needs to adjudicate this I would defer to counsel or if the uh party uh the challenger would like to withdraw the challenge I think we offer the challenger the opportunity to withdraw the challenge yeah yeah yeah that that would be that would be my recommendation offer the it it's the exact same thing so you can offer the challenger the opportunity to withdraw because it's inconsequential we've already adjudicated the the question at hand yes um we don't have to go through the the thing if they don't want to and that's and the challenger is uh myla eldridge in this case she is present so we will give her that opportunity to either present her challenge or withdraw her challenge madam chair and members of the board I am Milo Eldridge I have the privilege of serving as the chairwoman of the Marion County Democratic Party and at this time I will withdraw my challenge thank you thank you thank you very much the next uh the next challenge that we have um is a similar situation uh it is the the um a challenger again is um chair eldridge the candidate is Marcus Raglin um again we took these in order of date filed um so the um it is for the Pike Township constable office the staff research you'll see is the same um as the previous challenge um and uh at this point yeah I would um any any questions that the board had uh council correct me if I'm wrong but should we offer the challenger the opportunity to withdraw or proceed with the challenge yes madam chair this is the exact same situation as uh Mr.

Ragland's uh that we had the the very first one for Pike uh constable so if Madam Chair would or you know um uh madam chair of the Democratic party would would want to withdraw it's the same situation Madam Chair members of the board my position is the same I will withdraw the challenge thank you thank you uh next challenge for the Cantos are um um uh the challenger again is Chair Eldridge the candidate is Rodney Stanback um the office is um Wayne Township Constable uh the challenge reason is um vote history um staff research showed that um in the 2023 primary they pulled a Republican ballot 2022 um primary pulled a democratic ballot and then previous elections pulled democratic ballots as well and the challenger is chair eldridge and it looks like we have Mr Stombach right here so um uh chair madam chair would you like to go ahead

Staff research showed that in the 2023 primary, they pulled a Republican ballot.

2022 primary pulled a Democratic ballot.

And then previous elections pulled Democratic ballots as well.

And the challenger is Chair Eldridge, and it looks like we have Mr.

Stamback right here.

So uh Chair.

Madam Chair and members of the election board.

I am Milo Eldridge for the record.

Um and I have the privilege of serving as the chair of the Marion County Democratic Party.

I stand here today before you because it is my job.

It is my job to vet every candidate and make sure that they meet the requirements or the statue and that they are eligible to run for an office.

And with this particular challenge, um Rodney Stanback.

As it's been stated that he the office for Wayne Constable, the reason is his voting history.

Um he voted uh in 23, pulled a Republican ballot, and then 22 a Democratic ballot.

And at this time I'm asking this board to uphold this challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Sir good morning, everyone.

I looked at my history.

If you look at the whole history, uh there's for some reason there's an error, but uh, but I have been voting democratic, and I think I voted one time as Republican, but also doing doing my research and everything before I filed, I made sure that I try to make sure everything was right.

Um also completed the reform for is if you have an issue with the party issue, you've got to start complete the uh CAN2, and I did complete that and was certified and everything, and then I also um received the CAN-5, and to show that I am part of the Democratic.

I've been pretty much all my life, even when I was serving in the military.

So there is an error on this, but again, if you look at the whole history of my of my voting history, you'll show that I've been a Democrat and uh for that.

I'm asking for you to look on my favor.

And then I do have you know the signing uh copy from uh from the Marion County clerk uh showing that I'm a uh Democrat Party.

Uh got the uh the CAN to showing that I apply on time and is certified and orderized for this also.

So can you please hand that document to our council?

Yes, yeah, anything you just reference is helpful and just is for staff.

This question in 2023 we were using electronic voting.

Where you electronic poll books that's so if you got to the machine to vote, you would know you're voting in the Republican primary.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Okay.

So these are the filing files.

This is a certified.

Obviously, you can't.

Yeah, I can which that's what he said.

Yeah, okay, which is not the stops, obviously, test this walking please.

Um for the board's um information.

The the documentation um that's been provided are copies of um Mr.

Stanbach's CAN 2 filing, and then the CAN 5.

I'm sorry.

The receipt.

Uh yes, the copy that he received of his candidate filing, and then the CAN 5, um, which is um it it's a a certification or confirmation that we've received that we've we've received your candidate filing.

So it certifies that you have filed to be a candidate uh and has Madam Clerk's signature on it because it does come from the county clerk's office.

So these are the reference uh the the documents he's referencing.

Okay, thank you.

You've got a copies of yeah.

Any other questions?

Stanback still have time.

Okay.

Um do you have anything to add to a rebuttal?

No.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um at this point, I um entertain a motion.

We can discuss it further if necessary, uh, regarding the challenge to Mr.

Stanbach's candidacy for Wayne Township Constable.

Uh I will make a motion to uphold the challenge based on uh the Indiana code requirements for vote history and the uh there not being two Democrat votes too consecutive in the last two primaries.

I will second the motion.

Thank you.

And um, as noted before, if you get a ballot that's wrong now, you'll see that you're voting for people in the other party, and that can be corrected at the time, but it sounds like it wasn't corrected.

So I would entertain a vote on this motion that's been seconded.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

The challenge is upheld.

Thank you.

The next challenge that's on our list is um for uh candidate Daryl Campbell.

I do not believe that we have him uh signed in, but we do have um the one below him, Carlton Miller, if the board would like to address that one first.

Uh the challenger again is Chair Eldridge.

The candidate is uh Carlton Miller, who is present.

Um the office is Wayne Township Constable.

Um the reason for the challenge is vote history in the primary.

Um staff rechearch uh for both staff election board and voter registration staff shows no uh primary voting history.

Um and then where there was no history, uh you will note um that um voter registration also provided us uh date that the person registered to vote just for clarity for the board to be able to determine if they would have had the ability to vote in a primary thank you.

Oh thank you, Mr.

Miller, Chair Eldridge, um Chair Eldridge.

So as the Marion County Democratic Party chairwoman, um I am asking this board to uphold this challenge.

This challenge, the challenge against Mr.

Miller for Wayne Constable, um that the reason is he has no vote history, and according to uh Indiana Code 38-2-7, um, he just doesn't meet the requirements.

Thank you.

Mr.

Miller.

Um I'm not really sure what to say about that.

I've never voted before.

Um I have my reasons, but um I've never voted before, didn't think I had to be a voter.

Uh I knew I had to be a registered voter to uh get on the ballot, which is why I applaud, but I I wasn't aware that I had to you know have voter history to you know become a voter.

I've I have a stay in Indiana all my life, so you know I'll kind of bounce around, play some pro football uh a ring of football kind of everywhere.

So I didn't really reside here until probably about four or five years ago.

So thank you.

Thank you.

And I'll ask the question I've asked before.

Did you seek a certification from the Mary County chair to become a candidate?

Um so I wasn't aware of any of that.

Okay to be totally honest with you when uh uh when I seen online, um I read everything online as far as the qualifications and everything like that, and I just came in and applied and just ask questions as I wait.

Um no one told me that I had to seek any kind of certification or anything like that to become a Democrat.

Thank you.

Um Director Becker, if if do you have one of the uh filing forms?

Do you have any of that paperwork?

Yes.

What does what is that language say the options for uh somebody filing to run for office?

Do you have a candidate side of the same two, sorry?

Um so the it claimed the party uh affiliation is it it states as I'm claiming affiliation with the Democratic or Republican Party.

I understand that my party affiliation is determined by which party I voted for in the last two primary elections held in Indiana in which I voted.

I understand if I cannot meet this party affiliation requirement, I must obtain a file and file with this declaration a certificate from the appropriate county chair uh chairman of the party indicating I'm a member of this political party.

I meet the requirement to be affiliated with the political party indicated because, and then you check one of two boxes.

The first is the two most recent primary elections held in Indiana in which I voted were the primaries held by the party which I claim affiliation or the county chair of the party in which I reside of the political party in which I claim affiliation above has certified that I'm a member of the political party.

I've attached a copy of the county chairman's certification to this form.

Thank you.

So we have Mr.

Miller's form.

I'm sorry.

Yes, so it if at the time that someone is filing a candidacy and they check a box that says the county chair has provided a certificate, we would request that certificate at that time.

When they check that they voted in the most two recent primaries, we cannot immediately know if that is true until we go in and process this document and enter this into the statewide voter registration database.

Um and so just wanted to clarify sort of the administrative process there.

Right.

I guess my question was when Mr.

Miller filled out the form, did he check one of those two boxes?

He checked the two most recent primary elections.

And but you had never voted in a primary in Indiana.

Okay.

Thank you.

Just to change things up, I'll make the motion with respect to this uh challenge.

Uh I move that we uphold the challenge of Mr.

Miller's candidacy for failure to meet the requirements of the statute.

Second.

And we have a motion and a second.

All those in favor, aye.

Aye.

The challenge is upheld.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, the the next one on our list for can to use is um a challenger is uh Chair Eldridge.

The candidate is Darrell Campbell.

Um again, I don't have record of him uh being here.

Um so at the board's discretion, we can move on to more challenges where folks are present and return to this at a later time, or um check.

Double check.

Yeah, I was also gonna say if if Mr.

Campbell uh Darrell Campbell is or has is here and would like to speak, uh, now would be the time.

Or his representative.

Mr.

Campbell, representative of Mr.

Campbell.

We can defer this, and I'd like to proceed to the CAN 37 challenges on an agreement.

Oh, I'm sorry, we have one below that.

Uh yeah, so on that first page there, yeah.

We have one Republican CAN 37 challenge.

Um my understanding is there's a representative here for Chair Natalie Goodwin, who is the challenger.

The candidate is Gabriel Whitley.

Um the office saw is for state party uh state delegate um republican party state convention delegate.

The reason for the challenge is um pled uh guilty to a felony um and um staff research cites a a code citation, but I also believe this is a um party uh rule as well.

So um I would defer and answer any questions.

I believe um I believe there is a representative here to speak for um Madam Chair.

Yep.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Uh my name is Dulakim Shabaz.

I'm here today on behalf of Marion County Republican chairwoman Navy Goodwin.

I took off my media hat and put on my lawyer hat.

So I have a lot of hats, so I have a big hole.

Just ask my lovely wife.

Um, this challenge is uh relatively straightforward and it's grounded in the party's uh written rules.

The Indian Republican Party uh rules provide that upon conviction of a felony, a person's membership in all Republican Party committees or conventions immediately terminates.

Uh restoration requires satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the rules.

Uh here the relevant public record includes the state of it, the city of Indiana felony case and Mary County Superior Court, uh clause number 49 D 36, 248 F6, 021970.

Uh the charge they love it was a class six felony, intimidation threat to commit a forceful felony uh was decided uh December 30th, 2025.

But sentence the closed and executed suspended sentence on formal probation.

Uh that is not rumored, that is the docket.

In addition, Mr.

Whitley has separate felony matters on the federal side taken together.

This record reflects multiple felony convictions.

Uh say conviction delegates must uh be members of the party of good standing.

Uh Chairwoman uh good one is not asking for a special tree, but she's really asking for the party's rules we follow.

Uh this is not personal say that Mr.

Whitman I have a history as procedural qualifications, and for that uh we're special requests that the challenge be sustained.

Thank you very much.

I don't have any questions.

He's not present.

Um Madam Chair, I would make a motion to um uphold the challenge.

I'll second and motion and a second to uphold the challenge of Gabriel Whitley as candidate for Republican Party State Delegate.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Or you can take a media hat out too.

Spoken like a true O'Connor.

Okay.

Do we want to try again with Mr.

Some brevity in the billing?

I mean, we gotta have it.

It's a long day.

Okay.

Um we'd like to take a five minute comfort break.

Um we'll be back.

Let's say eleven twenty.

Okay.

Recess.

Recess.

Thank you.

I don't know.

Check.

Yeah, and that's what we're doing.

I think that's a question.

Okay, okay.

No, no one can be that's I mean this is why I wanted to go here.

What's your name with the restaurant?

I mean, this is the last one.

I think this is another one for meeting next week.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

So we ordered the channel.

They might have to be a good idea.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

So they wouldn't have to be able to do that.

Sorry.

Children's favorite class.

Yeah, I mean it's very one.

Are you taking off?

Yeah, it was yeah.

Oh, sorry.

It's really certainly done.

Yeah, I know.

I was having easier to do it.

I was like, I know.

It's very nice.

And then you're nice.

Okay.

Yeah.

I have a two-year-old.

Okay.

So I've done that.

Okay.

Oh, I know.

I don't know.

I've got a lot of meetings.

I'm really interested in the street.

That was now.

So I don't know.

I'm making everyone.

I had like a 25%.

Okay, it's 1120.

Let's get restarted.

If everyone can have a seat, please.

Hey.

Folks, we're gonna get started.

If everybody can have a seat.

Thank you.

We're gonna reconvene.

Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you all for responding to Patrick, not me, but that's okay.

Um first of all, we have a number of CAN 37 challenges.

Um they all appear to be under the Democratic Party.

So I would like to start before we get started.

Mr.

Boswell, if you could read to us the rules, the related rules of the Indiana Democratic Party, so everyone is uh familiar with those.

Happy to, madam chair.

So and it really comes from statute.

So statute tells us that when we are elected state precinct or state delegates and precinct committee people that we look to party rules.

So you can find that in 3621, 3101 4.5 for PCs and 36112 for state delegates.

If you then turn to the state party rules, I'll start with uh the precinct committee people under 11 rule 11d is the qualifications for a committee person.

It says a person may not be a candidate for precinct committee person unless he or she is a party member as set forth in rule C is a qualified voter and resides in the precinct in which he or she is a candidate.

Uh similarly, under Rule 17 B1, state delegate qualifications.

A person may not be a delegate for state delegate, a candidate for state delegate, unless he or she is a party member as set forth in rule 8C, is a qualified voter, and resides in the state delegate district in which he or she is a candidate.

And uh the delegate districts are set um by the party and the PCs are set by the uh county uh officials.

Rule 8C, as just referenced by those two other rules telling you what uh makes you a member of the party, says a party member may only be a candidate for precinct committee person or state convention delegate if his or her most recent primary election in Indiana in which the candidate voted was in the Democrat Party primary or two, the Democrat Party County Chair of the County in which the person resides certifies that the person is a Democrat.

And I'll note that that's different than the statute we were just talking about that required uh the most two recent votes.

Party rule requires just the single most recent vote.

Thank you.

Um today we don't have democratic challenges, but if we were to have Republican challenges in the same their their rules based on the statutes control these proceedings.

Yes, those are the statutes I kind of quoted at the beginning.

So statute tells us that when we're dealing with PCs and state delegates that we refer to the major parties rules to determine eligibility and qualifications for those for those offices.

Thank you.

Any other questions before we get started?

Uh yes, to Director Becker.

Are there uh earlier you referenced uh people who did who were not going to uh contest their challenge?

Do you have that do you have a list?

Should we go through that or should we just go one alphabetically?

At this point, I do have written statements from some of the folks that have been challenged.

I also believe some of them are here.

So when we get to them on the list, I was going to provide the written uh statement to the board.

Um and one of those I believe is someone who's who's not contesting the challenge.

So if you'd like to deal with that now, we can or or we can deal with it through the proceeding of the the hearing.

Which is easier.

I think for us it would be uh staff would be easier to stick to our alphabetized list and and try to work through it.

Well, we want it to be easier for you.

You're doing the heavy lifting for us.

Okay, you can proceed.

Um thank you, Madam Chair.

And I also wanted to note um for the board on the the Democratic Can 37 challenge list.

Um you'll note that these all came in on the same date, so these are alphabetical by last name again, just for ease for staff to be able to assemble the the information.

Um and that what I'd also like to start doing uh to help move things along is I will announce um the the current challenge, but then also kind of who's next on the list so that they can be ready um you know when that their time comes up.

And before you before we get into that, can you explain the difference between uh can two and a can 37 or just what what is on a can and what those are because this this all I was at a group earlier this week and uh somebody was very confused because I was jumping back and forth between uh those candidates for elective office versus candidates for party office.

So I think some clarification is in order.

And I'll start by saying I'm not an attorney, but we have one here.

So um, but generally the way that I would describe this is uh two attorneys, yes.

Uh CAN two is a state form.

Uh C A N is a short for candidate, right?

So it's a candidate form.

These are state mandated forms uh by the Indiana election division.

Um and what the the CAN 2 is a declaration for candidacy for a nomination in the primary to an elected office to seek nomination in that party for an elected office to represent that party in the fall in the general election.

Um with that can two um what there's a lot more information that is is on the form as far as requirements, for example, they have to open a campaign finance committee, they have to be compliant with campaign finance laws, and in addition to that, they also file what's called a CAN 12, which is a uh statement of economic interest for local um offices.

So if you're running for an elected office where you are going to be take is salary by taxpayers and you're going to be in an elected official public office, you file a CAN 2, and there is statutes that that regulate those requirements.

The CAN 37 is a declaration for precinct committee person or state convention delegate in and it's an election in that primary.

So they are being elected to that position in the primary, and it is a party uh party office.

So statute um has rules around elected offices, and as the as our council mentioned, party offices, it defers to the party rules for eligibility and and qualifications.

Um so the forms are different.

The information generally is the same.

Who are you, where do you live, what's your eligibility to be running in this office?

But the CAN 2, there's a lot more information they have to provide and a lot more affirmations that they will uh adhere to campaign finance laws, um, provide economic statements of interest and things like that.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Um and if we want to get started, the first on our list, um again, um all of these challenge uh challengers are our um Chair Milo Eldridge.

So I will just go through the challenged candidates.

Um first is uh Megan Alderman.

She uh and after that we have uh Gabriel Alford.

Um Megan Alderman is being challenged for Democratic PC in Washington 95, as well as state convention delegate.

Um the challenge, the reason for the challenge is um vote history.

Research showed that in the most recent election that she uh pulled a Republican ballot, and um yeah, uh the most recent history uh vote history pull the Republican ballot.

In the interest of time, too, I'll say to the board uh when we have situations where a person is challenged for both a PC and a convention delegate spot, same person for the same challenge reason.

You can adjudicate those, like you know, you can you can have the discussion collectively, and you have the option to take a motion on like both at the same time and take a singular vote on both instances because it's the same underlying fact pattern.

If either party brings up something that seems relevant to distinguish them, you know, they have the option to do that, you have the option to break it up.

But in the interest of time, you could um you could do two at once if you if you wanted to.

Thank you.

And we we need to be clear in our motions and our discussion about that.

Absolutely, yes.

Thank you.

Chair Eldridge.

Okay, good morning, madam chair and members of the board.

I am Milo Eldridge for the record.

I stand here before you today to challenge Megan Alderman um for precinct committee uh woman and for Washington 95 and delegate district 17.

The reason being um IDP rule number eight, um, as counsel was stated, I believe, I don't know, it's been a long week, but anyway, the the challenges um uh for uh her primary vote history and pulling an R ballot in 2024 at this time.

I would ask that this board consider to uphold this challenge.

Thank you.

I always win the alphabetical war, uh so thank you for going in alphabetical order.

Um good morning.

My name is Megan Alderman, and I'm a lifelong Democrat.

As evidence of this, I am submitting my voting record, thousands of dollars of the Act Blue donations exclusively to Democratic candidates, and letters confirming my membership and good standing with the women's caucus of the Indiana Democratic Party and as an ally of the Indiana Democratic African American Caucus.

The candidate one form uh that uh um was just presented, challenges um my vote history per party rule, which as I understand it refers to state party rule eight C.

While I voted in the 2024 Republican primary as part of an organized effort to oppose Mike Braun, the only time I have ever voted Republican in my entire life.

I freely disclose this to the county chair in January of 2025, and I have copies of those emails uh if that would be helpful.

With full knowledge, she appointed me vice chair of Washington Township Precinct 22 on February 3rd, 2025, an appointment that I still have today.

Effectively certifying me as a Democrat.

Of note, party membership eligibility requirements for PC and delegate appointment under Rule 8C are the exact same as for PC delegate candidacy filings.

My appointment demonstrates compliance with Rule 8C as it would have required the chair's waiver following my voting history disclosure.

Furthermore, under start state party rule 10E, candidates must receive fair notice of officer qualifications.

At the Marion County Democratic Party strategic launch on January 6, 2026, I was explicitly told by the Marion County Democratic Party vice chair that candidates would not be contested based on their voting history, a statement he repeated at multiple PC recruiting events, um, and that a separate waiver would not be necessary.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that the challenge to my candidacy for Washington Township 95 precinct chair and state delegate be withdrawn.

Thank you for your consideration, and I'm happy to pass on any prepared paperwork I've brought here today supporting my case.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'd like to I'd like to hear from Chair Eldridge about the facts circumstance.

My one question to you, uh Ms.

Alderman is after you when you decided you wanted to run for precinct commitment this year, did you contact the chair before?

Or did you rely upon the 2025?

Well, I contacted um Wes Brown, who's the vice chair who is at multiple PC recruiting events, and he told me in no uncertain terms that I did not need to get a waiver.

I did not I did not speak with Chairwoman Aldridge addressing.

Yep.

Okay, thank you.

Madam Chair, I just would like to say in the difference in regarding an appointment versus running for an office.

The rules are the rules, the rules are different, right?

We don't make the rules, we abide by the rules.

So, in regard to Megan, who is an awesome Democrat.

Again, we are following rule number eight.

Thank you.

Miss Alderman, did you want to rebut or say anything further?

No.

That's it.

And I did write one.

Oh, I'm sorry, one thing.

Okay.

Uh I it would be nice if you could read out loud um state party rule 10E, as that was another rule that I would that I came across as far as party access and um the fair the fairness of publicizing qualifications in order that any presumptive candidate may apply uh knowing full information about those qualifications.

I mean I'm happy to have it done once.

I it's not really relevant to our standards for today.

I I don't mean that in a bad place.

But it's I thought I'd ask if you have that handy, Mr.

Boswell.

Rule 10E says fair notice of officer qualifications and elections.

The party shall publicize a full description of the selection procedures for all party offices and the qualifications for each offices in a manner that permits all prospective and current party members to be fully informed in time to participate in each of the party's selection procedures, including delegate selection.

I don't know.

I mean, my interpretation of that would be that we have that in uh both rule 11, rule 17, which I read, which references back to rule eight, like it's published.

We have it here.

Um Madam Vice Chair.

And the rules also near what is on the Can 37 floor.

Yes, ma'am.

Um just correct me on 8C.

It says that it's the county chair that certifies in alternative to having voted in the most recent election.

Yes.

So it's not the vice county chair.

Yes, right.

Okay, thank you.

Any questions for challenger or the challenged?

No.

Any discussion or motions that anyone would like to have at this time.

Uh I will move to uphold the challenge based on uh rule 8C of the Indiana Democratic Party.

Yes.

As to both, as to both the CC and uh delegate district.

What I can't state convention delegate.

Yeah, we can't see the district.

I can't see the district number.

Um I second uh the motion to uphold both challenges.

We have a motion and a second to uphold the uh challenges to Miss Alderman's uh precinct committee and state convention delegate um declaration of candidacy.

Um further discussion.

Um I'd just like to explain my vote.

Um I get I uh I hear you.

I do hear you.

It is what we have to go on is this rule this it and and it is very explicit, and I know there have been conversations that have been going on, and we even talked to earlier this this week.

Um, but what our council has advised us is that we have to follow this rule.

Um and uh that is why I made that motion, and I just wanted to explain that to you.

Thank you.

And Madam Chair to explain my vote.

Um, having been in this position two years ago, um, when it was my party that had more than a handful of filings, um, I felt um uh the same pressure that I I believe our our our clerk does as well to uh uphold the rules.

So I vote aye.

And you're voting aye.

You made the motion, yeah.

Of course.

And I'll vote aye, and I thank you for a well prepared and I think we all feel it here, unfortunately.

The the facts and the the law of the party guide us.

Thank you.

So the motion is uh the challenges upheld as to both precinct committee men and state convention delegate for Megan Alderman.

Thank you.

Uh Madam Chair, the next one.

Uh the challenge uh candidate is uh Gabrielle Alford, Gabriel, sorry.

Um and um after that we have um on deck would be um and I apologize, Esme Barniskis.

That's not on who's here um yeah, that is who is present, yes, at this time.

Okay, gotcha.

I'm good to go.

Yes, you are, madam chair, members of the board.

I am Milo Eldridge for the record.

Um the challenge that you have before you um um after uh vetting and every candidate in researching um doing research just to make sure and sure that um a candidate um is eligible, meets the meets the requirement requirement and is eligible to be a candidate.

Um Gabrielle Alford, um, who is uh running for a precinct committee person in Senator 66 and delegate district 42.

The reason the reason being for the challenge is that she falls under rule number eight, which we have talked a lot about, council already.

I don't think I need to talk about it, but she does not re she does not meet the primary voting history, she has not voted in any primaries, and I would ask that this board uphold um the challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Alfred.

Come on, good.

Uh good good afternoon, Madam Chair.

My name is Gabrielle Alford.

Um my rebuttal to this challenge can be broken down into two specific arguments.

Uh the first one is looking at uh rule two under rule eight C, the Democratic County Chair of the County Party in which the person resides, certifies that the person is a Democrat.

Um I well I did not directly reach out to the chair, I was informed that nobody would be getting certified.

However, I would like to point out that rule two exists and to prove that the person is a Democrat.

So in the case that rule one was not met, rule two exists to certify that.

I am currently the president of the Marion County Young Democrats.

I'm a currently an intern at the Indiana with the Indiana Senate Democrats, and I am currently a campaign manager with the Indiana House Democrats.

So I think that I've met the requirement to prove that I am a loyal Democrat.

Um the second point that I'd like to bring out is that his or her most recent primary election in Indiana in which the candidate voted.

I haven't voted in any primaries.

The reason that I haven't voted in any primaries is due to the fact that I moved back to Indiana in December of 2024 after being in the military.

I was overseas and uh I lived across the country, and so while I did poll uh absentee ballots for the general election, being a junior officer living in another state in another country, the Indiana primary was just not at the forefront of thy mind.

However, after moving back, I decided that I wanted to get involved and get and try to you know run for office at this lowest level that you can run for office in this entry point.

Um, and so I would like to point out the fact that that's the reason that I didn't vote in the primary, but the rule says in which the candidate voted, um, and and there is no specific rule that says you had to have voted in the primary.

While D does say disqualified for not having pre uh voted in the primary election if and then it gives specific reasons, um, that's implied, but there is no specific rule that says that you had to have voted in the primary.

Um that those are my remarks.

Thank you.

And they have any questions for the Chair Eldritch or from Ms.

Alford.

No rebuttal at this time.

Thank you.

Oh, I do.

I have a question for our council.

Yes, ma'am.

Ums Alford referenced uh rule that I am I I'm unaware of.

Uh you have those yes.

Does that supersede um eight clear did you you're talking about D.

Uh sorry, so the first one for uh one C and then part one, most recent election in which the candidate voted.

Um that is what I'm talking about, and then I brought up D because while it's implied, um, there is no specific rule under part C that says you had to have voted in a primary.

Right.

So as it relates to C, I think it's clear his or her most recent primary in Indiana in which the candidate voted, or the Democrat Party chair of the county in which the person resides.

Um if you don't have one, you have to get the other.

Um, and in this case, uh the candidate does not have the vote history, so the alternative is to get the county chair.

Admittedly, D presents an interesting question.

So we have um, and the reason that I quoted rules 11 and 17 to you um has to do with D.

So D says a candidate is not disqualified for not having previously voted in a primary election if the candidate is not yet a voting age but will be 18 by the date of the upcoming general election, or the candidate is a newly registered voter.

Um I'm not sure that's applicable here.

However, um when you look at rule 11 that says um a person, you know, may not be a candidate for precinct committee person unless a party member set forth in rule eight C.

It's very specific to HC.

And the same thing for state delegate.

Um person may not be a candidate for state delegate unless he or she is a party member at set forth in 8 C, not Rule 8, HC.

So the applicability of 8D um is um seems to be non existent.

However, um if you were going to say, well, if that person doesn't have the requisite vote history or the the ability to have registered uh because of that date, um that's a different situation.

But if I'm not mistaken, those people that fell in that situation would have been captured in the withdrawals, I believe.

That's right.

So anyone that I think was subject to rule D, even though it's kind of in question, um, they the party actually withdrew those already.

So I don't believe that there's anyone that's gonna come up today that actually falls within the realm of being impacted of rule D question.

I know that's a lot of words, but um follow up there.

She's got a question.

Um I have a question.

Um first of all, thank you for your service.

Thank you.

And um thank you for your your dedication for helping others to get elected.

Um that's that that that's a great calling to have.

But our records show that you um actually probably don't fall under, which is why you weren't weren't part of the withdrawals, because your Indiana voter registration date was in 2016.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

So like I mentioned previously, I did do absentee ballots for every general election, and just to be candid, I didn't pull absentee ballots while I was in the military for primaries because that's just not where that's the priority of my mind at that time, and upon moving back, that's when I got involved in politics.

However, I would argue that it's not as clear-cut as it's being stated because if the rule had said in the most recent primary election in Indiana, period, then that would be clear cut.

But it says in which the candidate voted.

I didn't vote in the primary election, so it isn't as clear cut as it's being made out to be, in my opinion.

I think that rule is is there to give flexibility so that the the most recent one that the person did vote in, because sometimes things happen and we do miss one.

So we we want to give the the the benefit of the doubt for the one that they most recently voted in.

So and the Supreme Court has actually weighed in on that correct as we as I think you you're aware.

Yes.

Any other questions?

Um I would entertain a motion with respect to the uh candid C filing, the challenge of the candidacy filing for Democratic Precinct Committee person in center 66, as well as the Democratic State Um Delegate District 42 of Gabrielle Alford.

I move to uphold uh both challenges in uh center 66 and state delegate district 42.

I second.

We have a motion, a second.

Any further discussion?

What's that somebody said something?

Um hearing none from the board, um, I can entertain a vote on this motion.

I thank you very much.

And I know this sounds like we're discouraging the kind of things you're you're doing for your party, as Jennifer pointed out.

This is a tough process for the parties.

Um, and I think that because we are limited by the rules, and I do agree with the council's uh interpretation of that or and I that's why I I have been asking evidence, but it's it's clear that uh uh you didn't seek the waiver.

I'll call it a waiver, it's not really whatever certification from the chair, and that's another alternative that that was available.

Wasn't okay.

All right, thank you.

Next, next on our list, um the challenge is uh for Esme Barniscus.

Um following that we have Emily Black.

The challenge for uh Esme Barniscus is for Democratic PC uh in Center 22.

The challenge reason is uh vote history, and there is no primary vote history on file.

Madam Chair, if I could ask um director Becker a quick question, are we skipping over those that are not here?

Are we skipping over those that are not here?

I'm just trying to figure out the order that we're going in.

They did not sign in.

We're acting.

Yeah, we're going with those folks that have presented themselves to speak to the board at this time so that they can all have their opportunity to speak on their challenge and then we'll go through the rest of them that have not shown up at that point.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, members of the board.

For the record, I am Milo Eldridge.

I have the privilege of serving as the county chairwoman for the Marine County Democratic Party.

I stand here before you today with the challenge against Esme Borniskis, and I apologize if I messed up that person's name.

Um seeking the office of precinct committee person in center 22, and the reason for the challenge is also um rule number eight that this person does not uh meet the primary vote history and they have no primary record.

I would ask this this board uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Hi, I've been asked to provide some assistance uh representing.

Um so uh we have a uh a filing for uh CNO 22 um and she wants to come up and and admit that um she doesn't meet party rules, um, but she would still like to present a public statement despite that.

Fine.

Thank you so much for having me.

My name is Esme Berniscus, no worries about the name, it's difficult.

Um I did seek out certification.

I was not sure exactly what primaries I had voted in.

I thought I had voted in some, didn't think I'd voted in recent ones.

24 was kind of a weird year for Democrats, so I knew I didn't vote in that one.

Um I did reach out after discovering I had not voted in any primaries, which is my bad.

I I truly didn't participate, but I did seek out certification and did not receive a response until after the filing date.

I had given them um I I reached out on uh January 27th, uh, and they didn't respond until uh after uh on the 6th, like in the evening.

And so I got nervous and I was like, well, I don't want to miss my opportunity because I'm trying to get involved, I'm trying to support my neighbors, so I'm going to just file and we'll see if we can figure it out afterwards.

So uh I do feel like I did my due diligence, and um you know it's it's a little disappointing.

I'm just trying to get involved.

I'm a regular person.

Thank you.

Chair Eldridge.

Mr.

Chair, I also would like to note that um it's unfortunate that uh the precinct number is incorrect on the CAN 1 form, it should be center 22 and not Warren 36, according to the information that I have, Councillor.

Our says center 22.

Yeah, there were a handful of um well, maybe three three, I think.

Yeah, maybe three, two or three.

There's two or three uh candidate challenge filings where the there is something about the paperwork that was just off and and in this case um the challenge paperwork listed the wrong precinct, which chair eldridge is just informing you of that they wrote down the wrong precinct, which um is not um a per se disqualification of the challenge, but it you know it's a factor for you to consider, I suppose.

Okay, somebody is your first name just because I don't want to mess up the last name.

Uh Esme.

Um so you you saw you did seek certification.

Um there was never any response at all, or was there was a response um after the filing date?

Uh the the date to file was at noon on February 6th, and I received an email back.

I think it was like just before 6 p.m.

on that same date, so it was after the filing deadline.

And to clarify on the challenge for paperwork, it says that I'm running in WS057.

Um, and I I live in Center Township 22.

So just for clarification, because your representatives are you not contesting the challenge anymore?

I just want to make sure I'm heard.

So my understanding is she uh firms that she did not meet the requirements to have voted in the primary, but she still seeks for this uh board to make a decision about whether or not she's qualified.

Okay.

And Chair Eldridge, can you confirm that you did not provide a waiver at any time or certification?

That is correct, madam chair.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions for I would entertain a motion with respect to the challenge to Esme or Nixists.

Um candidacy for Democratic Precinct Committee person, Center 22.

I move to uphold the challenge for uh this candidate in this office, uh Center 22.

Um second, we have a motion and a second.

Any further discussion or comments?

Um I now call for a vote.

All those in favor of the motion to vote.

Aye.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming today.

Madam Chair, next on our list is uh Emily Black.

Um, and then um I do have written statements from Lisa Bray that we can uh address next.

Okay, thank you.

Um the candidate uh Emily Black is being challenged for um Democratic uh state convention delegate district 45.

Um the challenge reason is vote history, um, and it is uh pull a republican ballot in the 2022 uh primary, which was the most recent um most recent primary they voted, Madam Chair, members of the board.

For the record, I am Milo Eldridge, Chairwoman for the Marion County Democratic Party.

The candidate filing that you have before you today is filed again because we vet every person that wants to run for an office, and we do the research, and so Emily Black is being challenged for delegate district 45 due to the reason being rule eight.

She does not meet the primary vote history.

Um my notes tell me that she pulled in our ballot in 2022, and I would ask that you uphold this challenge.

Thank you.

Hi, good morning, good afternoon.

I think we're right on the line.

Yes, we are members of the board, and and thank you, Chair Eldred.

Um, I'm Emily Black, um running for state delegate for District 45.

Um, similar to Esme previously, I did email on January 28th requesting party certification, recognizing that um I have since 2022 uh switched parties.

Um I did not hear back um until February 5th at 5 39 p.m.

Um after I had already filed um to run.

And when I heard back it, you know, I appreciated the communication, um, but it was the opportunity to be considered for appointment.

There was no acknowledgement that I had requested party certification or any um indication one way or another.

Um, you know, 2022 was nearly four years ago.

I've since had two boys in that time and wanted to, you know, be involved with politics serving as a representative of my community as a state delegate.

Um I'd love the opportunity to be on the ballot as a certified democrat and would appreciate any consideration towards that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any questions or um well, I'd like to say welcome.

And sorry, goodbye.

No, I was gonna let that have an opportunity.

Yeah, I'm sorry.

Yeah, uh Chair Eldridge.

I just would like to note something that Emily mentioned that has not been brought up, and that is appointments.

Yes.

Um, and that is something that is not new to this operation that the chair is allowed to fill vacancies after a primary election.

So again, for those that are listening or looking at home, I just wanted to mention what Emily is talking about right in regard to appointments.

Thank you.

That's all I have.

Thanks for that clarification.

Um, I actually have a question for uh Chair Eldridge, um, if you don't mind.

Um Madam Chair, there there is a there's a theme I'm I'm getting, even though we're only about a handful into our hundred or so that we're dealing with it, there's a theme, and and I having worked with you for for many years, um, are a principal to um to rules and following rules, and and it appears that you might have did did you and in your central committee make it make a decision maybe not to give anybody any certification?

But I would I would encourage those to um accept those appointments um when when they're offered.

But thank you, Vice Chair, for your comment.

And we were fair and being fair, yes, everyone that did not meet whatever requirement, yes, they were challenged.

Yes, thank you for your question.

Thank you.

Thanks for that clarification.

Okay, I would entertain a motion with respect to Emily Black's uh declaration of candidacy, the challenge to that uh first state delegate district 45.

I move to uphold the challenge.

Second.

No further discussion.

Um I'm not seeing any.

Um I'll call for a vote.

All those in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, we next we have a uh written statement from Lisa Bray, um, who is being challenged for both Democratic precinct committee person in Wayne 13 as well as state convention delegate uh district 49.

Um the the challenge is um vote history um and the the research from staff um again shows that um pulled a republican ballot in 2024.

Um there is prior primary history that's present, but most recent was a Republican ballot.

Um and at this point I would uh maybe defer to council, but um I could read the written statement in lieu of the the time that the challenger uh the challenge candidate would have, or I could read that for the board at this time, however you'd like to handle that.

My advice would be to follow the standard process and let the challenger speak, and then um Mr.

Becker could just read the statement in place of the challenge E, and then you could adjudicate as normal.

Thank you.

I agree.

Thank you, Madam Chair and Board members for the record.

I am Milo Eldridge.

I serve as the Mount Marion County Chairwoman.

I'm gonna get tongue-twisted at first saying this so often, but anyway, um, because I'm proud to serve as the chairwoman.

But anyway, back to business.

Uh this candidate filing challenge that you have before you is um for Lisa Bray.

She is running for uh PC in Wayne 13 and delegate district 48.

Um she is being challenged under IDP Rule A, not having a primary vote history and pull it in our ballot in 2024, and I would ask that this uh board would uphold the challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Now you can read the written statement.

Good evening.

Uh and this was dated uh Thursday, February uh 19th.

Um good evening.

As of today, I have not received communication via USPS uh regarding the challenge to my candidacy.

That in and itself is concerning as perhaps you should have attached the can one to the original email.

I will also be unable to attend the public meeting Friday uh meeting February 20th, as I have a prior medical appointment that I cannot miss.

As I'm sure you've heard from others uh from many others who are ditching the Republican Party and want to join the Democratic team.

Many of us were raised Republican and truly didn't give a a lot of thought to politics in general until Donald Trump entered the picture.

Many of us felt unable to uh precipitate any real lasting change and were led to believe that our opinions didn't really matter.

All politics was quote as usual.

Yes, I did vote for a Republican ballot in the last couple of primary elections, not because those were the people I voted for, but to attempt to eliminate horrible candidates on those ballots.

I'm certain that many others were of the same thinking.

I fully and completely consider myself a Democrat at this point.

I want fairness for all people and know that as a human race we are better together.

I'm a member of West Side Indy Indivisible, work in health care where all people are treated with respect and have attended multiple rallies at or in the State House and other locations.

Since Indiana has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country, having precinct chairs out there knocking on doors and letting people know their voices do matter is significant.

I know that if there is a change I want to see, I need to be a part of it.

I feel certain that multiple quote Republican voters wanting to be on the Democratic team are not infiltrators, but genuine folks who want to make a lasting change like I do.

And if I could note for the board, um I did confirm with staff there was no follow-up request from this candidate for the um to seek a copy of that um can one through digital source.

Um we did reply to um probably over 60 or 70 emails um in the last week um sending note sending the the can one challenges out to folks via email.

So just a question about she said she never received it by U.S.

mail.

So in when the challenges were filed on the 13th, we provided letters, notices, and copies of the challenge to all of the people that were challenged.

Um the difficulty for us as an administration comes where we have mailing addresses for everyone based on what they put on their filing form.

We did not have email addresses for everyone.

So what we did try to do was notify them by email that you were challenged.

We got many replies back and and facilitated communication through our email.

Um but yeah, the everybody was sent a letter to the mailing address that they provided on file.

That was the best way to get notice to everybody that was on the list, and then whoever we did have email addresses for, we sent out um notice um of notice that you were challenged.

Okay, thank you.

And I'm sure our council will confirm that that met the requirements for notice.

Yeah, absolutely.

Oh, you haven't you good on this one?

Okay, thank you.

Um hearing the challenger and the statement of the challenge.

Um discussion for motion or is there motion with respect to this challenge?

These challenges.

Sorry.

I would imagine that uh Vice Chair Ping wants to uh make a motion on this one.

I would gladly make a motion to uphold the challenge of Lisa Bray for both offices of precinct committee person and um Wayne 13 as well as uh state district um state delegate district 49.

And uh I Lisa, if you're listening, I offer you the same uh words of welcome.

Uh I know it doesn't feel like a warm warm one necessarily, but uh I second the motion.

Thank you.

So I have a motion and a second to uphold the challenges of Lisa Bray's candidates or declaration of candidacy for Democratic Precinct Company person in Wayne 13 and Democratic State District State Delegate District 49.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye aye.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Um next we have um, I believe this person has provided a written statement and is also present, uh, Philip Bremen.

And then after that, we will um have Christopher Dean.

Um Philip Brennan is um being challenged uh in state convention delegate district seven.

Uh the reason is vote history.

Um the uh research from staff shows that uh voted Republican in the 2024 primary um and prior has prior um primary vote history before 2024.

I'm sorry, say that again.

What prior vote?

Has has prior vote history in 20 prior to 2024 in the Democratic Party.

Okay, thank you.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair.

Umbers of the board.

Um for the record, I am Milo Aldridge.

I serve as the Marion County Chair, woman for the Democratic Party.

The challenge that you have before you today is for Philip Greeman, who is seeking the office of delegate district seven, and the reason being rule number eight does not meet the primary vote history and uh pulled an R ballot in 2024.

I would ask that this board um uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I don't think we need to hear the written challenge since I'm here the written defense.

Um my name is Phil Bremen, as you heard.

Uh thank you uh to the board for allowing me to defend my candidacy for state uh convention delegate.

I heard uh one of the members of the board staff just a moment ago referred to a public office as one that was paid with tax dollars.

Uh that was my understanding of Lord Public Office is as well.

And uh I didn't think that a one day of service unpaid at the state convention counted as public office.

Nonetheless, I will say a little bit more about that when I talk about the credential I'm wearing.

I've consistently, as you heard, voted in Democratic primaries.

I did make an exception in 2024.

In 2024, there were six Republicans voting running for governor, and I expected correctly that whoever won the primary would win in the fall.

I did not want to see our state pulled backward.

So in the primary, I voted for the least extreme Republican candidate.

I acted in good conscience and in good faith as a good citizen, and in my opinion, as a responsible Democrat.

I submitted a handful of exhibits to the board, including a couple of news releases.

I submit those only as evidence that uh I was the press secretary for Governor Frank O'Bannett throughout his first term.

I wrote hundreds of news releases for him.

It was a great honor to serve for him, and it was in that term.

I am pleased to acknowledge that Governor O'Bannon created the Office of Public Access Counselor for any who may not know.

The first person to fill that office is presiding over this meeting today, and that would be Ms.

O'Connor.

And it's good to see you again.

My other exhibits are photographs of this credential.

I award as a delegate to the Democratic State Convention in 2024.

I was a delegate in 2024 because of that.

I certainly had no reason to think I was ineligible to serve in 2026, so I asked for no forbearance from anybody at the time.

I have great respect for anybody who would take on the often thankless job of running a party organization, but I respectfully request that this challenge be either withdrawn or denied so that I can continue to serve my party and my state.

Thank you.

Anything further, Chair Aldridge?

Not at this time, Madam Chair, thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, having heard the challenger and the challenge, um, do we have a motion with respect to Mr.

Bremen's declaration candidacy for State Delegate District 7, Democratic Well, I I will uh make a motion and um Phil, I don't know if you remember that we worked together.

Uh and I know that uh you have bona fides as uh evidenced by uh your past record, just just like uh a couple other folks here have, but again, the party rule and without uh a waiver or uh certification certification.

I wouldn't I'm sorry that we're saying it the wrong way, but uh absent that uh we have to defer back to what statute and party rule say, and um well I'm sure um our vice chair would say, hey, get out of my primary uh but uh you know it is it is your choice in in which ballot to poll.

So I will vote to uphold the challenge of uh Chair Eldridge.

And I will second the um the motion and um voting matters and there's consequences.

So all right, we've got a motion and a second to uphold the challenge of the candidacy uh Phil Bremen as Democratic State Delegate, District 7.

I and I.

Thank you.

So it is upheld.

Next on our list, uh Madam Chair, we have uh Christopher Dean, and then um we do have a written statement from uh Lisanya Diaz, uh, who would be next.

Okay, thank you.

Um the challenge for Christopher Dean is um a challenge to uh precinct committee uh office of precinct committee person in Wayne 76.

Um the challenge uh reason is for vote history.

Um and uh the research um provides that uh did poll a Republican ballot in the 2024 primary election.

Um there is prior party um history before 2024.

Madam Chair, members of the board.

Dean and I would like to say actually Mr.

Dean and I are friends we became friends and um his um he's seeking the office of precinct committee um man in Wayne 76 and delegate district 49 and the reason for the challenge um is rule number eight primary vote history pulling in our ballot in uh 2024 and I would um ask that you uphold um this challenge thank you Mr.

Dean Thank you good afternoon everyone Madam Chairwoman Honorable Board staff the one and only man the legend press the dual here people I happen to be a person who follows the rule of law I support it I encourage that and this challenge is legitimate right and fair I'll be perfectly honest so at the risk of being impertinent and wasting your time I'm going to take this as an opportunity to say uphold the challenge but I'm going to directly address chairwoman eldridge if I may I am a party switcher as you know and several other people have been and I'm very glad to say that I am I have found a home where there is again respect of the rule of law and not blind authoritarianism cronyism favoritism things like that and so as a result I have gotten significantly involved as people know over the last couple years in local party politics I did vote for Republican in 2024 in fact my entire life before then until suddenly I wasn't and I came to what I would say is my senses and you know based on truth and facts and reason but nevertheless the the rule of law states that this challenge is valid but the rule of law also states that there is an eligibility according to rule two point two of uh the eligibility for the chair of the county to certify that the person is a democrat and as uh an article in the recent newspaper the mirror indie was written about this and you had given a quote chairwoman that make it an exception for some individuals and not others would create an uneven process and risk the perception of handpicking candidates for party office on one level I absolutely agree with that I understand politics and the rule of law and the ways things work but I would say since you have been legitimately by the people appointed to your position you have the discretion and authority of yourself to challenge those risks and I encourage you to do so for those people who legitimately want to be involved please allow us in and I'm happy to serve in every possible way I can but I simply ask for the freedom of conscience to vote my own way in that behalf of my precinct that I would be running for so please and thank you.

Thank you Mr Dean anything further chair thank you um so at this point um I would entertain a motion with respect to Mr.

Dean's candidacy or declaration candidacy for precinct committee person as a Democrat in Wayne 76 I move to uphold the challenge file.

Second it's been moved and seconded all those in favor aye thank you Mr Dean Madam Chair I just wish I could clone Mr.

Dean all right we have a the next is a written statement yes madam chair and um if I could I believe um having previously read this statement that this person is in their statement um not contesting uh the challenge if the board would like um I could just read that statement or we could continue um I think we need to have that challenge presented and then her response the challenge um is for Lisiana Diaz uh for Democratic PC in Wayne 35 as well as state convention delegate district 52 um the reason is for vote history and research shows no primary vote history um on file thank you chair eldridge the challenge that you have before you today is again just vetting all candidates and doing the research making sure that they are eligible to run for an office um is for pre against Lucius and I'm not gonna pronounce her last name I'm gonna call her Miss Diaz um but for precinct committee woman in Wayne 35 delegate district 52 reason being um under rule eight does not meet the primary vote history and has no primary record of vote and I would ask that the board uphold my challenge thank you thank you Madam Chair the statement uh provided by um Stiaz hello my name is Lisiana Perez Diaz and I have been challenged for my candidacy as PC for Wayne 35 and delegate for district

Um, but for precinct committee woman in Wayne 35, delegate district 52.

Reason being under Rule 8, does not meet the primary vote history and has no primary record of vote.

And I would ask that the board uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, the statement uh provided by uh Stiaz.

Hello, my name is Lisiana Perez Diaz, and I have been challenged for my candidacy as PC for Wayne 35 and delegate for District 52.

I understand that I've been challenged under the primary voter rule.

I have voted twice under a democratic regular election ballot, but never a democratic primary ballot.

This is not because I am not a Democrat or because I am not a good Democratic advocate, but because my interest in advocacy has changed drastically over the past year, and I was first able to vote just three years ago.

I appreciate the opportunity that I've been given by the city and the count and the country to share my voice in our local and national elections and the opportunity to even present my interest for both state delegate and local precinct committeeman.

I do understand the reason for my challenge, and I accept the reason is valid and withdraw my candidacy.

I will not be able to attend the hearing given I work a job from 9 to 430 in a prior engagement arrangement for the day on Friday, February 20th.

I understand the reasoning for the challenge to my candidacy.

I plan to vote in this May primary, and I'm ready to help inform our Marion County residents on how to register to vote and also how to inform them about inform them about who is on our ballot.

Thank you for all the work that you do, and I hope to run again in the future.

Best to you all, and again, thank you for your time, Lisiana Perez Diaz.

Thank you for reading that.

I have a question for council.

We have a motion to withdraw the withdrawal candidacy, but we still deal with the challenge.

Yeah, it's it's passed today to withdraw their candidacy, so you need to adjudicate the challenge.

Yeah.

Um I will move that we uphold the challenge of Miss Lasonia Diaz, uh, her candidacy for Democratic Precinct Committee person Wayne 35, as well as Democratic State Delegate District 52.

Second.

All those in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

The challenges uphold uh challenges are upheld.

Next on our list is Constance Elliott.

Um, and after that we have uh Susan Huffer.

Uh Constance Elliott is uh candidate for Democratic PC in Pike 47 as well as state convention delegate district.

Um their uh challenge reason is for vote history.

There is no primary vote history on file.

Um I would like to make a take a point here to to notify the board that Constance is on staff with the Marion County Election Board.

Uh she started with us in October of last year.

Um so I believe she's also here to speak, or maybe not, I'm not sure.

I think she's in there.

I know she's at work today.

Thank you.

Chair Eldridge.

Madam Chair and members of the board standing before you as the chairwoman of the Marion County Democratic Party.

For the record, my name is Milo Eldridge, and the challenge that you have before you today against Constance Elliott, seeking the office of precinct committee person for Pike 47 and delegate district six.

The reason being um IDP rule number eight, primary vote history, and not voting um in a primary, and I would ask that this board uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Um I wanted to start by addressing my voter history.

I am not an Indiana native.

I moved to Indiana in June of 2019.

The last primary I voted in was the 2018 election in Kentucky where I was still a resident.

Um I do have a copy of my voter history from Kentucky that shows that I am a registered Democrat.

I do believe this could have been provided and explained during a simple phone call with the representative of the party or the party chair.

However, it is my belief that this many challenges are a fail-safe way to deter new activists from being engaged.

This is very disheartening because during Mrs.

El Ms.

Eldritch's victory speech after winning her 2025 re-election, she stated, and I quote, I want to continue to build this party and build people and lift people up.

I want every Democrat to know that you are that I welcome you to join the Democratic movement.

This is not the impression that has been given, and a little more research and thorough vetting could have saved much time today.

And I am almost certain that we will see the effects of these challenges later down the road.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ms.

Eldridge.

Madam Chair, if you will.

I've spent a lifetime talking about how important primary elections are.

And again, as I stand here today to rebuttal, Mrs.

Elliott's response is that the rules are the rules.

I don't make the rules, I don't bend the rules, and I don't break the rules.

And I welcome her to this party, and I welcome her to get engaged and continue to do this work under the leadership of our honorable clerk and of the wonderful election board staff.

And so again, I ask that you uphold my challenge today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Miss Alane, anything further?

Thank you.

Okay.

Any questions or discussion from the board?

No, but I would like to state that I am going to recuse myself from this vote.

As an employee.

Yes.

Understood and accepted.

I'll make a motion to uphold the challenges of Constance Elliott's declaration of candidacy for precinct committee person, Democratic precinct committee person in Pike 47, as well as for Democratic State Convention delegate.

I can't read the district on my list, but for the district for which she filed.

And I will second.

Motion is in a second or on the floor.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Madam Chair.

And if you uh would allow, I just wanted to do a quick time check for the board.

It is almost 12:30.

We do have a hard stop in this room at two o'clock today.

I'm happy and available to proceed.

I'd like to get through as many as we can today.

Absolutely.

Um next on our list is um Susan uh Huffer.

Um following that, we will have uh Patrice Johnson.

Uh Susan Huffer is being uh challenged for Democratic pre uh precinct committee person in Washington 46.

Um the challenge reason is um vote history, and the research provided um by staff and VR indicate that they voted Republican in the 2024 primary.

Uh, there is prior party history uh before 2024.

I'm sorry.

Chair Eldridge.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair and members of the board.

I stand before you today to challenge Susan Huffer, who is seeking the office of precinct committee person in Washington 46.

The reason being Indiana Democratic Party rule, primary no primary vote history and pulling our um ballot in 2024.

I would ask that this board uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Mrs.

Huffer.

I'll make this as short as possible.

Uh I am Susan Huffer, precinct 46 by Broadurbo Park.

I'm really nervous speaking in public, so I'll try not to have my voice waver too much.

Um worry about that at all.

I do not dispute uh the reason for my applications challenge uh in 2024 for the first time in my 46-year voting history.

I strategically voted a Republican ballot in the primary to try to keep Michael Beckworth off the ballot.

I have a strong history following this man.

I think he's dangerous to our democracy.

I am certain my mother and grandmother are still spinning in their graves for my voting a Republican ticket.

I'm sorry, mom, sorry, grandma.

Um I think they would have done the same thing.

Uh I'm a member of the League of Women Voters, uh, longtime poll worker, a generous financial supporter of 100% Democratic candidates, never have supported a Republican.

I am retiring, and I was looking very forward to taking a more hands-on role in the Democratic Party in my retirement.

At the age of 67, I prefer not to wait another four years to have a satisfactory primary voting history.

I don't have four years to just sit back.

I will go work for the League of Women Voters.

I will still register people to vote after they get sworn in as U.S.

citizens.

I will play a role.

I would prefer to play a role in the Democratic Party.

I don't feel welcome.

I was very discouraged when I got the email and then the letter.

Sorry, time set.

During the 2020, um, during the last primary.

That many people encouraged us.

I got lots of emails for that, and some were from Democrats.

So that's it.

Um that's pretty much it.

I don't want to wait.

I want to play a role in this, and I hope that the chairman chairwoman can I'm like, do we go with chairman?

Can find a role for me somewhere.

I'm sure.

Thank you.

Thank you.

There's all kinds of pens here.

All kinds of people have left the pins up.

Okay.

Um any questions or any rebuttal?

Chair person.

There's no rebuttal.

I just would say that I definitely welcome Ms.

Hoffer and look forward to working with you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have one follow-up question because I'm old and I have nothing left to lose.

Um I get a feeling today that there were many more challenges this time around than there were last time.

Is there any way she could let me know if there were more challenges, if she made more challenges this time?

And would she be willing to share what the motivation was?

Because many people in this room seem very confused by the number of challenges this year.

And is this normal?

Is this and I think uh Vice Chair Payne noted that two years ago her party had uh a multitude of challenges.

Um but these are all public records.

I get to say that because I'm the former public access because the reasons for the challenge, um, we've been verbalizing those, but those are on the challenge form.

Correct?

So those are all public records in your I don't know what the difference in number was from 24 to now.

Um I know it was a big year of 24 as well, right?

The challenges?

Yes.

So yeah, so Republicans run for precinct committee person in uh presidential primary years.

Democrats run for precinct committee person in uh midterm primary years, state delegates, that is both parties, you know, for uh presidential years and midterms, obviously.

So the Republicans did have more in 24 because they had more people who were running uh for those party offices as to what happened um in in the last time that uh Democrats ran for precinct committee person.

Um I don't think that uh Milo was the chair at the time.

I think it was some awful person.

Okay, thank you.

All right, any other questions or comments from the board members?

Um hearing none, I'll make a motion to uphold the um challenge to Susan Heffers declaration candidacy for Democratic Precinct Committee Person Washington 46.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded.

All those in favor?

Aye, aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

All right, Madam Chair.

The next uh challenge is for Patrice Johnson, and then after that we have uh Celeste La Cosier.

I apologize.

Um Patrice Johnson is being challenged for Democratic PC and Decatur Township Decatur 10, as well as um, and I believe this one uh again.

So uh this is one where uh we had received two candidate challenges for um democratic precinct committee person, um and they I think are essentially duplicate challenges.

I believe the intent of the party was to challenge two different offices, but that is not what was filed.

So what's before you is uh challenged for essentially a duplicate duplicative challenge for dicatur PC indicator 10.

Uh the challenge reason is vote history.

Uh there is uh research shows that no history, no primary vote history is on file.

So to clarify, then are we looking at a Madam Chair?

Are we looking at a single challenge?

Okay, all right.

It's just duplicate forms, yes, ma'am.

All right, thank you, Madam Chairwoman and member of the board.

The challenge that you have before you against Patrice Johnson, I just want to let you know that she and I talked this morning today here.

And she did leave and she wants to work uh with the party.

Um again, uh there it's the same form, just two different documents, and I and I and if you will, if I will if you will, I just want to say too when you're dealing with a multitude uh project of this size, right?

There's a possibility that you might get a copy or two of the same document, so please forgive us for that.

Um however, again, I think that we're in uh a good place with Patrice.

She and I plan to talk um later about her role as um the precinct committee person for decatur team moving forward, and so uh madam chair at this time I um will uh says that her voting history she doesn't meet the voting history though for Indiana Democratic Party rule number eight, so I would ask that you uphold this challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And Miss Johnson left, she didn't leave a certain statement.

No, no, but it looks like she did sign in at the beginning of the meeting.

Okay, uh I will move to uphold the challenge for Patrice Johnson for uh peace precinct committee person dicatur 10.

I uh second a motion and a second to uphold the challenge.

Uh uh Patrice Johnson's candidacy for Democratic Precinct Committee Person Decatur 10.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye aye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Celeste Madam Chair.

Next, um, we have and I really apologize if I mess this up.

Celeste La Cossier.

Um, and then asked you a thumbs up.

Oh, good.

Uh after that we have uh Joshua uh Joshua Lemieux.

Um the challenge for uh Celeste is for um the Democratics uh state convention delegate district 40.

Again, the reason is vote history.

There's no primary vote history on file.

Okay, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, members of the board for the record, I am Milo Eldridge, the chairwoman for the Marion County Democratic Party.

Uh the child the candidate filing challenge that you have before you against Celeste, and I'm gonna let you pronounce your last name for me.

How do you pronounce it?

Le Coursier.

Le Coursier, um, who is seeking the office of delegate district 40.

Reason being does not meet the rule number eight, primary vote history, no primaries, and I will note that I have here just for the record, council of the SSLS has a potential clerical issue with primary vote history record out.

Of course, if you know your will, we will let her share what that means.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and Chair Eldridge and the members of the committee.

Um thanks for the opportunity to speak today.

So my name is Celeste LaCoursier.

Uh, I'm secretary for the Marion County on Democrats and a candidate for a state delegate district 40.

Um here to respectfully request that the challenge to my candidacy be dismissed and that um I request to be certified as a Democrat so that my name may appear on the ballot in May.

Um the challenge cites the bylaw rule 8C1, which requires that a candidate must have voted in a democratic primary.

I want to be clear, I did vote in a democratic primary.

Um the voting record currently associated with my registration is not accurate.

Um there's two reasons I know this.

Uh first because I distinctly remember pulling a democratic ballot in the most recent primary.

Um I participate consistently in elections, and I have no doubt about that history.

The second is because on December 31st, 2025, I discovered that my voter registration had disappeared off of the state portal.

My record was gone.

So I immediately re-registered online, assuming it was a clerical issue.

Um at the time I had no reason to believe it would affect anything further, but after filing my CAN 37, I learned that my voter history was also incomplete or missing.

Something I could not have anticipated or corrected on my own.

So I've acted in good faith at every step.

I filed properly, I've consistently supported democratic candidates, and I serve this party in leadership.

The issue here is not my commitment to the Democratic Party, but maybe an administrative error in the voter file.

For these reasons, I respectfully ask the committee to overturn the challenge or request that Chair Eldridge certify me so that District 40 voters can have a full and fair ballot this May.

Uh thank you for your time and consideration, and I also have an additional document record of my registration on December 31st.

If you want that, I believe council does.

Yes.

Any questions?

I've got questions.

Yes, please do.

Yes.

Uh where did you vote?

I believe it was in the it's District 40, so JTV Hill Park is one of the voting centers.

Yeah.

And have have you changed your name at all?

But I did get married.

Didn't change it though.

Well, that congratulations to whoever your spouse is.

And did so you had a primary vote history, one that our the research could not find, but you say that you uh disappeared off the portal.

Are you talking about Indiana Voters.com?

Yeah, when you go to check your registration online, you're like, hey, I gotta check your registration because I want to file Cam 37.

Just make sure.

And you you did that you have to do that.

Nothing was there.

I put my 31st.

Uh yes, that's then what happened?

Um there was nothing.

I so I looked up my husband's, his was all there.

Um I was like, okay, I don't know, that's weird.

So then um I just was like, you know, maybe it's just a small issue.

This could probably happens a lot.

I don't know, it's a lot of doubt, a lot of people voting.

No, it doesn't have a vote now.

No, okay.

Well, uh I try to um figure out uh later when I found out like the voter record was weird.

I tried to figure out more about it.

I I didn't try to figure anything out at first because I thought it was maybe kind of normal.

Okay.

Did you contact the Secretary of State's office?

No.

Patrick, did you have something to add?

I wondered if I could ask a question of Celeste.

When did you go to you said it was the JTV Hill Park?

Yeah.

And that was in what election did you pull?

Is it the most recent 2024?

2024.

And I the reason I ask is I have staff looking into if there's any any information we can find that confirms that she was checked into the poll books on uh electronically.

We have that data, yeah.

Yes, we should have it, yeah.

Yeah, there was also I want to mention in 2024, I believe two different polling locations as well, one for the primary and one for the general.

There was a vote wherever you want.

Yeah, you can.

Okay, okay.

I went to a church at one point as well, though.

At least as of today.

Well, you yes, yes, uh to be clear.

Um, can shall I move to table this until this research has been found agreed?

If I do have do are you available to hang out with us for a little longer?

Yes, yes, yes.

Thank you.

I agree.

Second, second table.

We'll table this um until it gets more information.

Thank you so much.

Madam Chair, next on our list is uh Joshua Lemieux.

Um followed by that, we have a written statement from Judith Libby that I could read for the board.

Um, I do ask uh for our staff before before you step up again, Chair Eldridge.

Is uh we were gonna come back to Darrell Campbell.

Oh, yes.

Um, did that individual ever sign in or he is not yet signed in.

Okay.

Thank you.

Yes, I reminding okay.

Um Josh, if you're ready, I can present Joshua Lemieux.

Uh um is being challenged for uh Democratic uh precinct committee person as well as state convention uh delegate.

Um the challenge is um vote history.

Um the um research shows that he voted uh a Republican ballot in the 2024 primary chair, madam, madam chair, and members of the board.

I stand here before you today.

The presenting candidate finally challenge I guess Joshua.

Um I did speak with him today um in this room, and Joshua was just wants to be engaged and wants to continue to move forward, so he is not here.

He did leave.

Um however, he is being um challenged for the office of precinct committee person, 144, delegate district 32.

The reason being under rule number eight, no primary vote history, and putting an R ballot in 2024, and I would ask that this board would uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And I I apologize.

Um staff just informed me that Joshua did leave.

He did sign in earlier, but has since left.

All right, thank you.

Based on the information, he had a conversation with Chair Eldridge.

Um is there and he didn't leave a written statement, so I think we just assume he did intend to say something.

He had a conversation.

Um proceeding.

As am I, yes, same right.

So I'd entertain a motion to uh uphold the challenges of uh the candidacy of Joshua Lemieux for Democratic Precinct Committeemen as well as state convention delegate.

So moved.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

All those in favor by vote aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, next we have Judith Libby, who has provided a written statement.

And then after that, David Maps, if you are still here, you would be uh on deck.

Um the challenge for Judith Libby is for uh Democratic Precinct Committee person.

Um the um challenge reason is for um vote history.

Uh research shows that she pulled a Republican ballot in the 2024 primary.

I stand before you today with a candidate filing challenge against Judith Libby, who is seeking the office of precinct committee person in Washington 2.

The reason is IDP rule number eight, no primary vote history, and pulling it will pull in our ballot in the 2024 election, and I would ask the committee to uphold this challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we have a written statement from Miss Libby.

Yes, Madam Chair, I have too many screens up at once.

I apologize.

Um to whom it may concern.

My name is Judith S.

Libby, Marion County Precinct 002, and I recently filed to serve as a delegate to the Indiana State Convention.

My candidacy has been challenged based on my voting record.

I have voted regularly in all primary and general elections except for the last one because of an unanticipated illness.

I've been a Democratic precinct captain for the last three elections.

In the most recent one, my precinct wrote 4,000 postcards for candidates, and I worked hard to support the Democratic Party.

Therefore, I would like to have my challenge reviewed.

I'm aware of how difficult it is to get people to serve in party positions.

Consequently, when someone such as I does this, this should be considered when reviewing the challenge, which clearly does not provide all the information about me.

And I'm unable to attend the February 20th meeting of the city county building due to a doctor's appointment.

Nevertheless, I hope you will still consider my appeal to rescind this challenge in order for me to be a delegate to the June convention.

Excuse me.

This the uh she she stated a state, she stated a state delegate, but we have her listed as a running for precinct committee person.

Is she in the the uh file?

Is there an issue with one of her filings?

Can you let us know?

No, um what I would say is in in her letter she's referencing precinct two, which is I believe what she filed to run as a precinct committee person in district two.

Oh, just a confounding district.

She she may be maybe not understand, I'm not sure.

Um I would I don't believe we have two filings for her, though.

I think we just have the one for the precinct committee person.

But um she didn't reference, did she reference June?

But she is also on our democrat problem filing sheet as a problem with uh no ballot name was the problem.

Um she's on our sheet, our problem sheet too for the office of precinct committee person too.

I'm on the analysis page.

Yeah, I I guess I we we don't have a filing for her for state convention delegate only the PC filing.

Yes.

So what she says in her in her letter, I I can't um I can't speak to why she's mentioning the June convention.

Um but the office that she's running for is precinct committee person.

Okay.

Yeah, it has to say precinct committee person on the maybe just comment to file for one, but file three minutes.

Okay, all right.

So um anything else, Chair Eldridge on this one?

No, Madam.

And entertain a motion with respect to the challenge of Judith Libby uh for democratic precinct committee person in Washington too.

Um to uphold that challenge.

Uh I I make the motion to uphold the challenge.

Second.

There's a motion is second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Madam Chair, next on our list uh of folks that are present is David Maps.

And um if they are still present um on deck would be Juan Claudio Martinez.

David Maps is a uh candidate for precinct committee person.

Uh the challenge reason is vote history.

Uh research shows no primary vote history on file.

Yeah, we've uh see he left.

And it sounds like he is no longer presenting, Madam Chairmember and the member of the boards.

I stand here for you in front of you today.

The candidate filing challenge for David Maps seeking the office of precinct committee person for Perry 49.

The reason being under IDP rule number eight, um no primary vote history, um, and I would ask that this board uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mapp.

We that I grew up in the South Side, that was Mapus, the people I knew.

Yeah, uh so if I say Maps, that's why I say um and since Mr.

Mapp has left and he didn't leave any instruction.

Um we will proceed with the um any if there's any questions or discussion.

No, I would entertain a motion with respect to this challenge.

I move to uphold the challenge uh for this candidate in this district.

Second.

We have a motion and second.

All those in four in favor, vote aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

The challenge is upheld.

Thank you, madam chair.

Go to one.

Yes, thank you.

Uh the next is Juan Claudio Martinez, and on deck would be Joshua Moreo Moreira.

Um challenge for Juan Claudio Martinez is for Democratic precinct committee person and state convention delegate.

Um the reason is for vote history and research shows no primary vote history on file.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair and members of the boards.

I present to you candidate filing challenge for Mr.

Martinez seeking the office of precinct committee person for Franklin 23, delegate district 58.

Mr.

Martinez does not meet the voting requirements under rule number eight.

Um he has no primary um history of voting, and I would ask that you uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Hello, I'm Juan Claudio Martinez, and it is true I've not voted in the primary.

I'm 23.

I just started getting into politics this year, like seriously, uh, beyond just voting in 22 and 24.

Up until then I had not voted at any primary.

And uh I would like to ask Elbridge if it is possible to get certified, as I have voted up and down the board.

Democrat.

Is that possible?

Madam Chair, I don't think this is appropriate um at this time.

I am willing to talk to Mr.

Martinez Mr.

Martinez and welcome him to get involved and be engaged with this party and thank him for the work that he has already done, but I don't think that this is the appropriate time to respond to his answer.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And I think you answered the question of how you proceeded with respect to challenges as a party earlier.

You didn't certify offered appointments.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

So I was not notified of any uh anything from Elbridge about you know appointments or certifies, and as far as I'm concerned, that is uh within what she does as a chairperson.

Is that correct?

Um you weren't notified by her.

No, or her office, sir, whichever it would be.

That she's not required to notify you.

Okay.

Uh the rules say if you if you signed this form, it said that you need to be familiar with party rules.

And some people who came here today did say I tried to reach the party.

Um, and so there were two options.

You either had to vote in your most recent primary, uh, the most recent one that you voted in Indiana as a Democrat, or have a certification from the chair.

But she doesn't know that you're out there unless you contact her, I guess is a way of saying.

So, yes, she wasn't required to certify you unless you requested it, and she made a statement earlier as to all of these that the county party had made a decision to be fair and not make those differences.

But she's also made several statements here today that she would like to talk to anyone who wants to get involved because there are appointment opportunities and other kinds of volunteer opportunities.

So then the possibility of this uh challenge being withdrawn rests solely on your parts, or it does rest on her part.

She's the challenger.

Okay.

And we can ask her if she's willing to withdraw, but I think we probably should get that on the record.

Yes, we do we do not have the authority to withdraw any challenge uh that was duly filed.

Okay, I'm just failing to understand um how this is you know proceeding.

Okay.

Uh so if what you are saying is that there's possibility for me to get certified after this, or no.

No, it's not about certification.

Right.

Um I I want you to understand completely.

I want everyone who is who is here and who has been waiting to understand completely.

This is a complicated uh it's a complicated business because you were certain terms are used uh a certification would come from the party from the party chair, and that would come before you filed to run for office.

So you registered to vote in uh according to the documents that we were provided, the research that was done uh once this challenge was filed in 2022.

And you were ineligible to vote in before uh in the primary in 2022.

So you had 2023 and 2024, the opportunities to vote in that primary, not voting in those primaries and filing to run for uh precinct committee person and state delegate.

Um I imagine what the party did was they went through all of the filings, the 1200 filings uh that came into our office because that that is a public record.

So they went through and they looked, and I believe that they went through and checked everyone's voting history, and when they saw that somebody had either voted Republican or had not participated in any primaries that they could see uh that triggered a challenge being filed.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but that that is the series of events.

So it's it's not something that you did, it's something that did not happen, and it is not based on you as a person, although I understand that it probably or that it may feel like that.

Uh but that the time to ask for a waiver or a certification is before you file the paperwork to run.

That that is because there's there's a I'm gonna have to put on the specs again to look at this.

So this this form that somebody had to notarize for you, you maybe got it notarized in our office.

Um in the general information section that I comply with all requirements under the laws of the state of Indiana and any candidate require requirements set by my party's rules.

It is uh incumbent upon people who file to know what those party rules are, and if you didn't if you haven't memorized rule 8 C of the Indiana Democratic Party, um, or the entire handbook of the Indiana Democratic Party rules, you're not alone.

It is um I I feel your frustration.

I do.

It is uh but I want to point out to you that it appears you're not you you you were not singled out in the it in a challenge, it is uh just based on not having that voting history, and as Chair Eldridge has said, uh there may be an opportunity one once this hearing is over to be appointed perhaps as a delegate.

I don't know the status there, or and or as a precinct committee person, because I know that uh based on her statements that she has welcomed and wants to welcome people to the party and to participate, but the the time to get uh certificate to attach to this form was before it got filed.

It can't be done afterward.

Does that does that clear anything up?

So I will speak to Eldridge after this.

I I assume if that is possible.

Yes, chair Chair Eldridge is um she has you know stated here publicly multiple times that uh she does want to talk to the people who filed.

Okay.

Do you do you have any questions though?

I mean, I I wanted to make sure that it got cleared up.

I have no questions at this moment.

Okay.

Great.

Thank you.

Chair Eldridge.

Madam Chair, I have no comments at this time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um I would entertain a motion with respect to the challenges to the candidate uh declaration of candidacy for Juan Claudio Martinez uh for Democratic Precinct Committee person and state convention delegate.

I still move to uphold um there's been a motion and a second to uphold the challenges.

Um all those in favor say aye.

Aye aye.

The motion passes.

They are appealed.

Madam Chair, next on our list is uh Joshua Marrera, and after that is Deborah Oberly if they are still present.

Um would the board like to move on to ones that are present?

Yes.

Okay.

Overly.

Okay.

Um Deborah Oberley is the uh next person that has signed in.

Um I apologize.

Um being challenged for Democratic Precinct Committee person as well as state convention delegate district.

Uh the reason for the challenge is vote history.

Um and again, staff research shows that voted uh Republican ballot in the uh 2024 primary election.

Um does have prior party uh voting history before that.

For which party?

Uh Democratic Party history.

Thank you.

Madam Chairmember, members of the board, I stand before you to present this challenge.

Um, if it's okay with you all, Patrick has already gone over the reason for the challenge, and I hate to waste everybody's time here.

Um if that if it's okay with you, I will just move forward.

If I do need to go over the reasons, just let me know, right?

But moving forward, we're just gonna zoom through this, and if it's okay with council uh moving forward.

Um so the challenge that you have before you again is against Deborah um Oberly.

Um you know the reasons why, and I do ask that this board uphold this challenge if that is appropriate under um Robert's rules of order.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, uh, so uh here to represent Deborah.

Um so uh we did show up today because she genuinely believed that she had voted Democrat in the last primary, um, but due to to the late notice of receiving it and understanding what the allegations were against her, she didn't have time to go separately confirm, and she also recognizes that she's human and maybe she misremembers.

Um she's let me know that she's not going to contest this, um, and she will just separately uh reach out at some point in the future and ask to be appointed.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um I have no comment at this time, madam chair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Um so we've heard from the challenger and the challenge.

Um do we have a motion with respect to the challenges to Deborah Oberley's declaration of candidacies for Democratic Precinct Committee person as well as Democratic State Delegate.

I've moved to uphold the challenge.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye, thank you.

I think it's interesting that the next person on the list, they're running against each other.

Was that husband wife?

Or I don't believe Mr.

Oberly is here.

He's not here.

Is he coming?

Okay.

I don't know.

I don't believe he has representation either.

Okay, thank you.

The next person uh that we have signed up is uh Clarissa Oliver, if she's still here, and then after that would be Jordan Perkins.

Is Clarissa still here?

Mr.

Perkins, yes.

Perkins, Ms.

Perkins.

Okay.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, I apologize.

Yeah, please.

Yes, please.

Yes.

So now we're uh Jordan Perkins is uh being challenged for Democratic State Convention delegate and precinct committee person.

Uh reason is for vote history.

Um research shows no primary vote history is on file.

Madam Chair, member of the boards.

I stand before you with the candidate filing challenge for Jordan Perkins.

The office being salt is precinct committee person for Perry 13 and delegate district 55.

Um the reason being under rule number eight does not meet the primary vote history and no primaries, and I would um ask that you uphold my challenge at this time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

On behalf of uh Ms.

Perkins, uh she wants to let you know that she is not contesting that she has not voted in a primary before, but she does have a statement that she wishes she to share.

I do not have a history of voting in primaries because before last year I did not see a point in voting in primaries and only voted in general elections.

I've never felt my primary vote previously mattered and have gotten much more involved in the last year.

I applied to be an intern with the Indiana House of Democrats and have donated to Jackson Franklin, and I also volunteer with the National Lawyers Guild and the American Civil Liberties Union to legally observe for a protest.

I don't think that the decision to challenge over a hundred people who are trying to get involved was a wise one.

We need people in Indiana to engage in their communities and politics.

This many times starts at a PC level, going door to door and talking to their neighbors.

I think challenging people who want to run is undemocratic.

Appointments allow people to be favored and handpicked rather than being elected by and serving the communities and neighbors.

I urge the Marion County Democratic Party to withdraw these challenges and to let people run.

We should be welcoming people to get involved in the Democratic Party and not challenge them as soon as they put themselves forward.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, I have no comment at this time.

I still ask that you uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Having heard from the challenger and the challenge, um, I'd entertain a motion with respect to the challenge of Jordan Perkins Declaration of Candidacies, both for state convention delegate and precinct committee person.

I move to uphold the challenge.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Next, Madam Clerk, uh, we have, and I apologize if I mispronounced this, Teresa Quay or Kay.

Um, and it's looks like she was previously present, but she has also provided a written statement.

So if she's not present, we do have a written statement um for her.

Thank you.

Um her representative is no longer here.

Uh she is being challenged for Democratic Precinct Committee person as well as state convention delegate.

Their reason is for vote history.

Um, and research shows that she polled a uh Republican ballot in the 2024 primary.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, members of the board.

Teresa Quay is being challenged based on the reasons um director Becker just gave you, and I would um ask that you uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Thanks.

I have a statement from uh Teresa.

I'm officially submitting to the election board my response to the challenge by Milo Eldridge to my candidacy for precinct committee person for Lawrence Township 001 and Democratic State Delegate uh District 22.

I'm a lifelong Democrat and having over 50 years of voting, never once voted in a general election for a presidential candidate that wasn't a Democrat.

I was encouraged by some within the party to vote in 2024 on a Republican primary ticket in a deliberate attempt to defeat Donald Trump as a Republican candidate for president because I believe that I believe that I would give the Democrats the best chance to win uh that would give the Democrats the best chance to win the general election.

I had reviewed the races on the Democratic primary ballot, and most were unopposed or people I did not know, so I did not see my lack of voting on a Democratic primary ballot as a detriment to the party.

I have several prominent Democrats who are willing to vouch for me as a Democrat, including the Ninth District Party Chair, who I've lived for 30 years, but the Marion Power Marion County Party Chair has not responded to my specific request to certify me due to my support from other Democrats who will vouch for me as a candidate.

I'm asking that the challenge be rescinded, rejected, uh slash rejected, and my candidacy for both offices be certified.

I'm unable to attend to the hearing tomorrow at 10 a.m.

due to several meetings that have been on my calendar for a month and are over a hundred miles from Indianapolis.

Um appointing Alison Cole as my representative at the hearing, she will also be able to be in contact with me virtually if there's any questions.

Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you.

And just a brief note, if you could wait till someone's done speaking.

I don't mind brief clap, but that it's hard to hear when there's other noise.

Getting old.

Thank you.

Uh Chair Aldrich, do you have anything in response to the comments?

I have no comment.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

So we've heard from the challenger and the challenged person by uh written statement, uh, Tweetsa Quay, uh her the challenge to her uh candidates declaration of candidacy for democratic precinct committee person as well as state convention delegate.

We have a motion.

I move to uphold the challenges.

Second.

Aye.

Thank you.

Okay.

So next.

Next we have apologize.

Next we have uh Nora Sallows.

Uh if she is present or representative.

Um after that, we have uh Renok Shaw, who would be on deck.

Um is Ms.

Sallows here.

Or representative for Miss Sallows.

Yes.

Okay.

Uh the challenge for Ms.

Sallows is uh for Democratic Precinct Committee person as well as state convention delegate.

The reason is for vote history and research from staff shows uh they pulled a republican ballot in the 2024 primary election.

Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the board.

I stand before you today as the chairwoman for the Marion County Democratic Party and the candidate filing that you have challenged that you have before you against Eleanor Sallows seeking the office of precinct committee person for Lawrence 35 and delegate district 25.

Reason being that she does not meet the requirement rule under under rule number eight, it does not have the primary vote history and put an R um ballot in 2024, and I ask you to uphold this challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hey, my name is uh Mike Olis.

Uh I Nora reached out to me.

She's on a cruise.

Can I be here?

She's so lucky to be there.

Imagine being the cruise or being a cancer doctor and being at work instead of being here today for this nonsense uh this nonsensical uh challenge.

Uh Nora reached out to me.

She's part of this movement of people who've been recruited to get involved for the local Democratic Party because people want to change and want to go out and get their neighbors to be organized and help defeat Trumpism and help engage more people.

Uh Nora tells me that she has been a lifelong Democrat.

She um polled a ballot in 2024, like a lot of people here have because uh because they wanted to see Trump defeated.

That was a strategic vote.

Uh and uh and uh and obviously there's uh I love primary voting, as some of us here know, but uh some people are new to the game, and uh and so what I've seen today is just that's really breaking my heart, and I'm just really sad.

You know, I've been involved with the Mary County Democratic Party since 2004.

I've seen some sad days.

This might be one of the saddest days I've ever experienced watching amazing people denied a chance to run for a small volunteer elected office, not based on rulemaking, but based on the conceit.

Because Chair Eldridge, who I was there when she was elected the first time and re-elected, second time she was challenged, she made promises for a better party.

Uh this is a conceit.

She can easily say, hey, these people made strategic votes, these people make donations.

I know they're involved with the party.

I'll make I'm gonna sign a waiver.

County chairs across the state have done this.

And it just breaks my heart that we're here in this fight of our lives for our democracy, and instead of bringing people together and getting people fired up and making our democratic party stronger, we're hurting it.

Our gatekeeping, and we're making it miserable and toxic.

So I'm sorry to chair, but this is I thought you were better than this.

That's why a lot of people voted for you first time.

Uh so I thought it was uh as things have gone today.

She has probably no way to win this challenge.

So I just wanted to say I'm just deeply saddened by what I've seen today, and I'm sorry that you know somebody spends all their all their whole career trying to make the city better and the state better, and then we're going out there and recruit people like Nora to go and run for an office, and then to be treated like this by our party is doesn't make any sense to me.

So I would I would ask my sign waivers for everybody today who qualifies as a real Democrat who can explain why they voted.

And I I'll just say this.

I've I advise people when they didn't have the voting record to run for uh elected office, like Constable, like hey, hey, you don't have the voting record, you're gonna get challenged.

So this is we will you make a difference and say Milo.

I'm I don't be a voice for demonstration.

We need to close.

Sir you need to close.

Would you sign a waiver for these people?

Sir no.

Mr.

Olis, is there anything else you need to say before your time?

I think the time is probably up, but uh I'm as heartbroken by seeing today.

And and uh I've known some of these people a very long time.

I'm just I'm very saddened.

So thank you.

I feel sad for Nora who made a strategic vote against Trump and should be punished for it.

Thank you.

Mr.

Olis, is this yourself?

Someone's fellow here, yeah.

Madam Chair, I do not have any comments at this time.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Okay.

We've heard from the challenger and the challenge challenge's rep as to the uh do we have a motion regarding the declarations of candidacy for Nora Sallows for both the Democratic Precinct Committee person as well as state convention delegate.

Um well this is Lawrence 35 on both, but can't be true.

Maybe it is true.

I don't know.

Um do we have a motion?

I move to uphold the challenges for PC and convention delegates.

Second, it's a movement seconded.

All those in favor of upholding the challenges say aye.

Aye aye.

Thank you.

Okay.

Madam Chair, next we have Renak Shaw, and then um after that we have uh Haley Shanley, who I have a written statement from.

Uh Renok Shaw is being challenged for Democratic Precinct Committee person as well as state convention delegate.

Uh the challenge reason is for vote history.

Um research shows that they pulled a Republican ballot in the 2024 primary election.

Madam Chair, members of the board, the candidate filing that you have before you the challenges are based off what Director Becker has already shared with you against Roanoke Shaw.

Um and I do ask at this time that you uphold the challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Ronald Shaw.

Um, I'm certainly gonna lose this challenge, but since I'm available to give German public comment, I'll take it.

After voting Democrat in every primary, since I was eligible in 2008, I like many pulled the Republican ballot in 2024 for the reasons many have stated.

I've been told recently, a couple days ago, that this strategy was not endorsed by the party, but to my knowledge, nor did they voice opposition to it.

So I would guess I was just a confused voter.

My precinct had no PC life cycle, so after knocking on doors, phone banking and hosting fundraisers from multiple Democrats, I was encouraged to participate in this new way.

This year's surge of civic interests can only be healthy for democracy, and I understand that Chair Eldridge has to follow state party rules and is unlucky enough to be the person present to litigate them.

I appreciate that difficult position.

Regardless, the way the notice and enforcement has been carried out is a local roadblock to seizing on that civic energy and risks leaving many vacant electable seats.

I am not aware of a clear and formal process to seek party certification nor appointment, and I've been unable to locate one.

Uh, do we just send an email?

What evidence needs to be presented?

Are there checks and balances?

Is there an appeals process?

Um, I do hope that challenge candidates like me can be certified in a transparent way, um, that there can be clear notice of how that process takes place because I just can't find it.

Um and otherwise to be appointed to serve the party as PC or state delegate.

I would love to know what the formal process is for that as well, beyond just sending an email.

Thanks.

Um Chair Eldridge.

Madam Chair, if I could just quickly respond to uh I don't think you could respond as quickly as Mr.

Shaw did.

Uh it's gonna be really brief and quick.

Actually, our executive director, Megan Hunsinger, is here, and she'd be more than happy to share with you.

We did provide an email that um with the rules attached to it from state party, but she will be more than happy to help you, and we welcome you and would love to work with you after all.

This is over.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um further.

Um I just asked that you uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Shaw, anything else?

No, thank you so much.

Um okay, I did entertain a motion with respect to the uh challenge to the declaration of candidacy for Ronak Shaw, uh, for Democratic precinct committee person as well as a state delegate for district thirty one.

I'll make a motion to uphold second challenges.

We have a motion and a second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, next on our list is Haley Shanley, and then if they are still here, Maurice Shirley would be um on deck.

Uh or their representative.

Director.

And uh just before you come back.

Uh Celeste.

Yeah.

Cossier.

Yes.

So we did have staff go through and do research.

I've received um uh information from the voter registration office as well.

It it appears that uh Celeste has only uh general election um history.

Um we don't have record of her signing into the poll book and selecting a primary ballot.

But we but we do show that she does have a voting record.

We we do show that she has a uh a voting history that maybe we can rectify for her in the records.

Yeah, and and I I can't speak to why she didn't find her information on Indiana Voters.com, but we we I do have uh a screenshot of her record from from County VR.

Um I had our staff review um the e-poll book software that tracks the um check-ins to the e-poll books for those last few elections for the primary, and we didn't see a check-in for her there.

Okay, okay.

Do we need to then with this information?

Yes, can we bring this Kate?

Can we bring that?

So we tabled this matter, and I think now that we have the information, um, I would give uh Chair Eldridge and I'm gonna mess it up with Coursier, Ms.

Coursier, an opportunity just to based on this information.

Just if you have anything else to say with respect to the challenge.

Madam Chair, I will follow the board's lead.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I I just want to say that I really hope you guys figure out what happened with the registration thing.

That was my main concern bringing this here.

I felt that was very strange.

Yes.

So I appreciate you guys looking into that.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Yeah, there are the and I would like to uh actually say something about that because not that all of this is not a big deal.

But when we are talking about uh the voter file and what the state has and what not just Marion County, not just uh the the it's the whole state.

We rely on that system being right.

So when you said that, I don't know if you noticed this, but I there was uh if if there is a mistake in that, that's a really big deal.

Now, we're human, everybody's human if things happen.

Um there will be more research done to ensure and it it could be as simple as a number being transposed.

Um I will tell you on my and if anyone from ISA is watching this on my city issued laptop, I have to uh hit the T three times uh in order for it to work.

Now, I figured that out after there are a lot of T's in my password phrase that I have to use.

I'm not gonna tell you what it is, but there are a lot of them.

And uh it took me a while to figure it out.

So we are going to figure out uh it could just be that uh something maybe the T on your uh uh uh on your computer got stuck, who knows?

But if there is a mistake, we're going to find it, and we will notify you.

I appreciate that very much.

Yeah, but you are registered right now.

Yes, as of December 31st, I submitted that.

Yeah, I am we've got to adjudicate this uh the this challenge, and if you're ready, yes, I'm ready.

Um, move to uphold the challenge.

Uh second.

There's been a motion uh to uphold the challenges.

There's only one on the screen.

Um the challenge that's Celeste Le Coursier for Democratic State Delegate just Lady in a second.

Um, all those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Thanks.

The next we have is uh Haley Shanley, who has provided a written statement.

Um after that would be uh Maurice Shirley, if their representative is still here.

Umley Shanley is being uh challenged for Democratic State Convention delegate.

The challenge reason is vote history, and research shows that there is no vote uh primary vote history on file.

Madam Chair, to members of the board, based off of uh what Director uh Becker stated in regard to the reason for the challenge.

Um I I agree with that, and I just ask that you uphold the challenge.

The only thing that I would add to what Director Becker said is that it's delegate district uh number two.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um dear election board.

I am writing in response to the challenge filed against my candidacy for the Democratic State Convention delegate uh specifically regarding vote history under party rule.

I'm a registered voter in Erin County and participated in the 2024 general election where I supported Democratic candidates.

My decision to file as a candidate for state convention delegate reflects my sincere and good faith alignment with the Democratic Party and my desire to participate constructively in the Democratic process.

While my civic engagement was limited, was more limited in earlier years.

I have made a deliberate and meaningful effort to become more informed, more engaged, and more active in my role as a citizen.

As a professional broadcast journalist, my career is grounded in critical thinking, fact-finding, and ethical responsibility.

I have applied those same principles to my civic participation and political engagement.

Through this process of education, engage in engagement, I have developed a sincere alignment with the values and principles represented by the Democratic Party.

My candidacy was filed in good faith and reflects my genuine intent to support Democratic candidates and contribute positively to my community and the democratic process.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully, Haley Shanley.

Thank you.

Chair Eldridge, anything?

No comment, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

We've heard from the challenger and the challengee by in writing.

I didn't retain a motion with respect to the declaration of candidacy by Haley Shanley for the position of State Convention delegate.

I move to uphold the challenge.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded to uphold the challenge.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Three ayes.

Thank you.

It's upheld.

Thank you, madam chair.

Next we have Maurice Shirley or the representative.

And then after that, uh Heather Smoolion has provided a written statement.

Maurice Shirley, or is the representative here?

Yes, yes.

Okay.

Being challenged for Democratic precinct committee person.

The challenge reason is for vote history.

And the research shows that there is no uh history on file.

Madam Chair, members of the board.

Again, the challenge that um is before you is based off of um I agree with Director Becker.

Um in regard to why um Maurice is being challenged.

I just would ask that this board would uh hold um my challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um our request at this time is just to provide a little more time for uh Maurice Shirley to be able to verify her record.

Um she seems to be under the impression that she thought she voted uh primary on her last election, um, but hasn't had a chance to uh circle around and get a confirmation.

So um my understanding is I you guys need to move forward by Thursday of next week, but we were hoping to for have at least a few more days to be able to circle around and then check and get the confirmation for her that she needs.

Um can we do that now like we did for I'm gonna say I'm gonna mess up the name?

Like Gortier.

Okay.

I mean, we've got the right we have the people who are in the room to do it.

This wasn't that already done.

I mean, that there were there were different issues.

Yeah, the the issue was with Indiana Voters.com and sure that uh that miss course Mrs.

LeForcier's uh not finding her name on that she thought she invited primaries too.

Yes.

Okay, so and so there was uh voter re voter registration did research, so did staff for the yes, she's on short notice.

She just uh wasn't fully aware of what was going on and hadn't had time to circle around with people.

So that's just where she is.

So if if we can verify that here, that might be enough.

Um I don't have the ability to go back and otherwise get additional information from her since she's not here.

Our staff can start doing that research right now while we continue.

Sure, we can table this.

Um table that and we'll we'll come back, we'll circle around on that.

Wait, we got I get a record.

That's Maurice Shirley.

Yes.

All right.

So we've tabled that one.

We'll move on to the next.

Is it Heather Smullian?

Did you guys vote on Maurice Shirley?

Um, tabling it.

They're just gonna do a quick research.

Um Madam Chair, it does look like staff was doing that as you all were speaking.

If you would like to ask for us to address that.

Um there's no primary vote history on file, but we do have four general election uh vote histories on file.

Right, which is reflected in the information.

Is that sure?

That's Maurice.

You've gone back to Maury Shirley already.

Yeah, yeah.

They were doing it.

You just have to say the words.

It just happened.

Okay.

Do you want to bring up the representative back up?

Yes.

Representative for Maurice.

And she's welcome to look.

I think Brent has this probably up on his um laptop.

And while you're doing that.

May I just want to attorneys that I think the question was because we're looking at the same software that syncs with yours, is that they believe that they voted in person.

Is it do they have the ability to go seek the research that they signed the poll book at the location that they have in their memory that they went to during the primary?

Our staff can work on that right now.

Okay.

The next one that we have.

Oh, we need a location.

No, you've got her data.

Check-in.

The next one on the list.

Um I apologize.

Um so staff has confirmed they're in our electronic software, uh, electronic poll book software uh for Maurice Shirley.

No check-ins exist for the 2022 primary, the 2023 primary, or the 2024 primary, uh which corroborates what's in the statewide voter registration database.

So this is so Maurice Shirley did not check in at any of our locations.

There's no record of a check-in um in any of the most recent primaries, the last three.

And that would cover because 2020 was the data registration.

Yeah.

And it it if you would please explain.

So we know what you're talking about.

We know the different systems, but it is uh there's a if you could just give a very brief explanation of SVRS versus the e-pulse or I don't know, sure.

Is that right?

Is it e-pulse?

Uh well, to be determined, right?

Um the um, yes, so as it was previously alluded to here, 2018 in the 2018 general election was the last election that Marion County used paper poll books.

In 2019, this board and this county fundamentally changed how we vote by moving to a vote center model.

That requires an electronic poll book that um is deployed to all locations that syncs to a government cloud that um it it checks people into that poll book, captures their signature, and activates their ballot card for them, or creates their ballot activation card.

The data that is stored on the um electronic poll book is um sent to a government cloud and then sent back to all the poll books throughout the day to sync so we know you know who's checking in and prevents people from going to other locations throughout an early voting process and then post-election day, that data is sent from the software, the electronic poll book software to the voter registration database where it is ingested by that database, and then that's how people get their check-ins and their vote history from an electronic poll book.

Um so the way that that should work.

I've got some feedback, sorry.

The way that that should work or does work is that um when a day of voting is done, a file is sent to the statewide voter registration database, and then we actually validate the data that comes into that voter registration database and then process it so that folks can get their vote history.

Thank you.

That was a simple version also may I ask a question?

So to to be clear, so we have in in our copies of the the data where um where um uh Mr.

Shirley uh checked in.

It's Maurice.

Maurice, yeah, Maurice Shirley um checked in.

We we know the the elections that were voted and they were general elections, and we're able to show that to his his representative today.

That's correct.

So voter registration, the the voter registration database only has vote history for general elections, and when we check the e-poll book software, we have no check-ins in a primary election for that voter, which is why there was no vote history for primaries in the statewide database.

So okay.

Thank you.

Did you want to follow up on that now that you have the information?

She merely uh wanted to follow up and get uh confirmation.

Um she did believe she had voted in primary, but I don't believe she intends to argue that she uh despite that, so she was seeking to seek confirmation before she came back.

So I think we uh can stand back and then just let the the board decide based off of the information it has.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, so we've heard information concerning Ms.

Sherlinischer, right?

Um the um her the challenge and uh the to her declaration of candidacy with respect to uh the the Office of Democratic Precinct Committee Men and Wayne Nine.

Um do we have a motion with respect to this challenge?

I move to uphold the challenge.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Uh all those in favor say aye.

Aye aye.

Thank you.

All right.

Next we have Heather Smoolion who has provided a written statement after that.

Um, Brandy Snyder, if you are still here, uh you'd be on deck.

Thank you.

The candidate filing challenge that you have before you against Heather Smolian.

Um she is seeking the office of delegate district one.

The reason for the challenge is under Rule 8, primary vote history, um, it's R in 2024.

I would ask that this board uphold the challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

A statement from Miss Mooleon.

Um hello, Brent.

I am disappointed to receive the message that I have been challenged for my candidacy for Democratic Party convention delegate.

I am out of town until March 2nd and therefore therefore unable to attend the meeting on February 20th.

I'm assuming my challenge is in regard in regard to the 2024 primary when I took a Republican ballot to clarify I took a Republican ballot to due to my wish to not have Mike Braun get the nomination for governor.

All my past primaries I have voted in have been for Democrat candidates.

Is there a way I could defend myself from this challenge without being physically present at the meeting?

Um for the board's uh information.

I do want to let you know that Brent did reply, and I have this thread with me.

Um I think that Heather believed there was some sort of form or or something she had to fill out.

Brent clarified that um she could provide additional information or what she's already provided would be sufficient, and she said this is sufficient.

Okay, thank you.

No comment, madam chair.

Okay, thank you.

So I've heard the challenge to um candidate Heather Smollians uh candidacy for Democratic State Delegate District One.

Do we have a motion with respect to this challenge?

I make a motion to uphold the challenge.

Second.

We have a motion, a second.

All those in favor, aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh next on our list is um Brandy Snyder, if you're still here.

Um and after that is Julia Stumpf, who is on deck.

Brandy Snyder.

Representative here for Brandy.

Okay.

Uh Brandy is being challenged for Democratic State Convention delegate uh for vote history, uh, polled a Republican ballot in the 2024 primary.

Members of the board.

Based off of the reasons that Director Becker has already shared with you.

I am challenging Brandy Snyder, and I request that you uphold the challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello.

My name is Cliff Marcaleo.

I'm representing Brandy Snyder today.

Brandi Snyder was one of nearly 200 people we physically helped fill out forms for precinct chair or delegate.

We have done so to increase in voter turnout, and it feels like we're trying to turn turn away this d voter turnout.

I'm gonna read her statement verbatim.

My grandpa, a union man, always said if you vote, vote democratic, they're for the working people.

In March of 2024, my mom's birthday part at my mom's birthday dinner.

She said Mike Braun would be a good governor.

I was appalled.

So in May, I made a choice to participate in democracy in the best way I could.

So in the Indiana republican stronghold to counter my mom's vote and to protect Indiana from fascism and Braun and Beckwith.

I voted Republican in the primary, knowing that I would vote for the women knowing that I would vote for the women winning Democrat in the general election.

As my grandpa always said to do, I cried in the car after I did so.

My voting history in Marion County shows that I voted for Democrat in every election since that I've lived here.

Later that year, I learned what a precinct chair was through my city councilor, and I I applied for an appointment so I could help the party get out get out the vote in this year's election.

I take this rule very seriously.

We have a record number of Democrats who want to participate in democracy this year throughout the state.

We have a level of excitement we haven't seen in years, and a real chance of changing the power structure in Indiana.

Because of this, other county chairs are not challenging the Democrats who have tried to save us from fascism in 2024.

And I ask that you, Madam Chair, please do the same and with your withdrawal your challenge.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Chair Eldridge, any any rebuttal or additional information.

Anything do you have any other comments?

Madam Chair, I don't have any comment at this time.

Thank you.

Yes, you're interrupting.

I'm from self-preservation.

Okay.

All right.

Um anything else on behalf of the challenged person.

You seem to want to talk.

No.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you.

Um, so we've heard from um on the challenge to the candidacy of Brandy Snyder for the position of Democratic State Convention Delegate.

Uh I would entertain a motion with respect to this challenge.

I move to uphold the challenge.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Okay.

Next, madam chair, we have uh Julia Stumpf, and then if they are here, Elijah Vance would be on deck.

Okay.

Madam Chair, member of the board.

I present to you candidate filing challenge against Julia Stumpf, seeking the office of precinct committee person and center 33.

Reason being IDP rule eight, um, primary vote history.

Um looks like uh R and um ballot in 2023.

I would ask that you uphold this challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Chair and Board, thank you for allowing me to speak.

My name is Julia Stumpf, and I did um file to run for precinct committee chair or committee person in CN 33.

Um I have been a Democrat all my life, but it's not really for you all or for me to litigate that in front of you all.

That's not why we're here.

Um, I I strategically voted Republican, and I did poll a Republican uh uh in 2023.

Um but I knew I did that, and and or at least I had a sense that I did that uh because mostly I vote democratic, but anyway.

Um I reached out January 16 in an email to um chairperson Eldridge asking, okay.

I think I've voted um in a prime uh a Republican in a primary, what do I need to do?

Because really, she's the person I need to litigate that you know show I've dead I've done what I've done to show that I'm a Democrat.

I never received a response.

I've heard multiple people say they've never received a response.

And I heard a question like is there a pattern here that people are not receiving responses?

And the and the and the response I heard from the chairperson was is that we decided that we were going to challenge everybody that did not follow.

But under rule uh 38 C2, the chair um can uh certify someone as a Democrat, right?

And I reached out and got no response, and other people reached out and got responses too late, and so I I'm just I'm confused.

Like if they weren't gonna certify anybody, tell us.

I can't be certified.

Now I will say I reached out, thought my voting history was in line, and so when I signed that forum, I really did think no, I didn't get certification, but my voting history is good.

Turns out, had I worked with the chairperson after I reached out, I would have found out oh no, you did vote Republican in 2023, and let's have a conversation what needs to happen to be certified.

But I didn't get that opportunity.

So I'm standing before you saying I didn't get the opportunity that was promised in the Democratic rules, and other people didn't, and I think that's a problem.

I have a question.

There was a primary after the 23 primary.

Correct.

I did not vote in that primary.

That could have carried your problem, actually.

Sorry.

No, two for the top you would have had.

That's all I want.

Oh, what for the party?

One for a party offices.

Yeah, if you had voted in that primary, as you say that you've done in the past, and I don't know if the record showed Democratic primary polls before, but I still had the opportunity to get certified either way.

Correct.

Um no, you had to do that before you filed.

Yes, and I tried to do that before I filed.

Yeah, right.

But the clerk, you filed, but didn't have the certification.

That's correct.

You didn't meet the primary voting requirement either, so you didn't.

She challenged you because you didn't have either one of those.

No, I agree with you.

I agree with you.

When I filed, I thought I did meet the primary requirement.

I didn't know about that municipal.

It was a municipal election.

Yeah, most people are 24 that were running into right now.

Correct.

Correct.

I did not vote in 2024, but my 2022, my 2020, my 2018 would have shown that the previous primary.

So I would have been able to litigate that with them if I had the opportunity, but I wasn't given the opportunity.

Okay.

Um that's it's this is Chair Eldritch, you're hearing.

Madam Chair, I have no comment at this time.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

Um anything else, Miss Stump?

No, nothing at this time.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Um we have heard from the challenger and the challenge with respect to Ms.

Dump's declaration of candidacy for Democratic Prison Committee person and Center 33.

Um can I can I hear a motion with respect to this challenge?

I move to uphold the challenge.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

Board one.

Um up next we have Elijah Vance, and then if they are still here, Marco Venico would be on deck.

Um Elijah Vance is being challenged for Democratic Precinct Committee person and state convention delegate.

The challenge is for vote history, and there is uh no primary vote history on file.

Yeah, okay.

Um Elijah Vince.

Madam Chair, before we delve into this candidate filing, if I could just take a second to clear up some misinformation, because I keep hearing fill out a form, fill out a form.

That time has passed as uh clerk Bale has said.

Um so again, for those that are watching and that are here in this room, I want everyone to know that that time has passed, and as I has stated earlier, that there is an appointment process, and we did email everybody giving sharing that information with them what to do and how to move forward if they want to be involved or engaged in the Democratic Party.

Um, so again, thank you for this opportunity for me allowing me to clear up some misinformation that is being shared.

Thank you.

Now, Elijah Vance, the candidate filing challenge that you have before you is uh for Elijah, who is seeking the office of precinct committee person in Pike 45 and delegate district one.

The reason being is not meeting the requirement under rule number eight and no not having a primary vote history.

And so I would ask at this time that this board uphold my challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, Mr.

Vance.

So uh Mr.

Vance is here today, and he uh genuinely believed he had voted in a primary, uh, but he is since realized that he has not, but he still wanted to share a statement with the board.

Okay, thank you.

Howdy, everyone.

Hi.

So part of having the last name that starts with V is by the time you get to the bench, you kind of know how this is going to go.

But uh I'd like to read my statement that I've written either way.

First I thank you for allowing me to speak on behalf of my candidacy, despite my absence in past primary votes.

I'm hoping that in hearing my story, you will see that I'm capable and willing to take part in seeing a healthier, happier, and safer America.

I'm 24 years old right now.

I registered to vote in the year 2020, the same year.

I left home in Indianapolis to California to achieve my dreams at film school.

See, uh my family taught me love, respect, and charity despite not having much to live off of.

Due to raised rent, I moved my mom and brothers pretty much every single year until I was a junior in high school.

Despite that, by way of miracle, they sent me from here all the way to California to become a filmmaker.

Um short lived, however.

The pandemic sent me home, and the miracle that sent me there was too expensive to replicate.

And so I sold.

I worked and uh I hoped for more.

And in that hope, I witnessed much of the struggling outside myself.

I worked during night, I slept during the day, and much of my life passed me by as I mourned my dreams.

I missed uh I missed the most recent primary.

Perhaps I didn't have a car or I couldn't get work off, or I was deep in the throes of my own misery.

But since then, I've taken charge in my life and have rededicated my dreams to the betterment of my favorite animal, humankind.

I ask you to see me not as my absent vote in history, but as a possible face of a future of change and a promoter of the well-being of you and everyone else.

Now, I realize that I'm not fighting you or any of you up there, but the rules that have been established before this court date.

And I'd like to say that knowing how this ruling is going to go, I'll do whatever I can to participate in the convention coming up or to be a PC.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Mr.

Vance.

I see you.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

Madam Chair, I have no comment at this time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So we've heard from um at the challenge related to the declarations of candidacy for Elijah Vance for a Democratic Precinct Committee person in Pipe 45, as well as uh Democratic State Convention Delegate.

Do you have a motion with respect to this challenge?

I move to uphold the challenge.

I have a second.

It's been made and seconded.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

We're going back to well, so madam chair, I apologize.

There's a bit of a discrepancy on your list.

So the next person is Marco Venico.

If you go to the previous page, um, there's a he's listed as first name, last name, Marco.

So it'll be Marco Marco on your page.

Um there is uh uh ballot name uh issue with the filing, so that that information got um put in in there.

Um what's his name?

It's Demico on your list it's first name Marco, last name, Marco.

His actual name is uh Marco Venico.

If I'm pronouncing that right, I don't know if he's here.

I'm sorry.

It's uh it's Marco V.

Sorry, let me pull the actual document here.

Yeah, let us know how to pronounce it, please.

It's um Marco Venizio Patino Junior.

If you want it.

Yes, so um Petino is the last name.

I apologize.

Spell it, please.

Okay.

P-A-T-I-N-O.

Okay.

Okay.

All right.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

We won't make it.

We're good.

Okay.

I apologize.

Did you find him on your list?

Yes.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So he's being challenged for state uh convention delegate.

Um, and again, Marco Patino, no primary vote history.

The challenge is based on uh vote history.

Okay, thank you.

Madam Chair and members of the board, based off the reason that Director Becker has already shared with you for this candidate filing challenge against Marco Patino.

I am asking that you uphold the challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I apologize for the uh confusion in last name there.

No, no, that's that's not your you do not need to apologize.

That is it's actually correct later on in the spreadsheet.

It is yes, it is.

I don't know why, I don't know how.

Um it's humans are involved.

Yeah, I understand.

I'm working in hospital, you have to see those mistakes and everything.

Uh after seeing so many people come up here and talk, they know um already rule A C, is that correct?

So I know.

I have no recollection of voting in the primary at all.

If I knew in 2024 of May, I would have if I knew this position was open.

At the time, I was a full-time college kid, studying to become an English teacher.

Was uh kind of cut off from FAFSA and everything due to budgetary things.

Um just worked.

And it wasn't until this year I started to be more involved with my community.

And it wasn't until I became disenfranchised with everything.

I've been a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party.

I voted in November 2024 for the Democratic Party as well.

And I know that might not you know make everything all clear.

I wish it did.

But I'm willing to work with you and willing to do anything possible to have my name on a ballot and to provide resources for our community and to make the city much more better.

I thank you for your time and everything.

I this is the first time coming up here.

It's uh been such an experience to see all the people who fight for the city.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Martino.

I look forward to working with you.

Patino Madam Chair, I don't have uh Roboto Roboto at this time.

However, I would like to say again that I look forward to working with Mr.

Patino.

However, although his name may not be on the ballot, there is still an opportunity for work for him to do some work.

So I ask you at this time to hold up this challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, so um we have a challenge on the table uh with respect to the candidacy of Marco Patino for Democratic State Convention delegate.

Uh for um, I don't know what district is cut off there, but do we have a motion with respect to this challenge?

I move to uphold the challenge.

Second, it's been moved and seconded to uphold the challenge.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Um I believe we've gone through everybody that has signed up to speak.

Um I don't know if they're if we want to uh ask if there's anybody else, if there's anybody else here.

Um got here late or yeah, and and I did want to do a time check for the board.

We are at two o'clock.

Um and I believe we have the room for longer if the board would like.

Um however you'd like to proceed.

Well, beyond calling for the folks who are might be here now, uh we Daryl Jim.

And Daryl Campbell as well.

Um we have with the problem list, and all of the others that have not been adjudicated on the list.

So we've dealt with just the folks that have arrived to to speak to the board.

Uh that is um again, the the way administratively wanted to handle this is give everybody their opportunity to speak.

Um, as you noted, we we skipped through the list, so all of those that have not been addressed, the board does still need to vote on.

Okay.

Um I will note for the board's information.

We do have a room booked for Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.

for an additional, I believe, four hours.

Um if if the board does uh wish to recess and reconvene, uh we have a room booked for Tuesday the 24th at 10 a.m.

What's your pleasure?

And I defer to council as well on on next procedures.

We just recess the question.

My pleasure is uh this is a can, too.

We have to do this now.

Yeah, Daryl.

And if and I would like I would like to know if there is anyone else here who uh has not had a chance who uh has a challenge who has not who we either missed if we missed anybody.

Yes.

I would agree with you.

Yes, let's try that first, see where we have and uh did I hear that you wanted to address the the Daryl Campbell challenge first.

Well, we'll need to address that one because it's nature, but also just to make sure that if there's anyone here who is one of the challenge uh the can 37.

They can just come to Brent right now and and let him know that you're here to speak or that you have a representative and and we'll make sure that we get you heard.

There's still a lot of people here in the room.

Yeah, so there could possibly be.

I mean, even by a show of hands, is anyone here who has not had an opportunity to speak with respect to a challenge of their candidacy?

I don't see any hands going up.

Um so I think well, one, let's deal with the can to uh Mr.

Campbell.

Um we don't have any information that he signed in, he didn't say anything in writing.

That's correct.

So I have uh no indication that he has signed in.

We did not receive anything in writing.

Um Mr.

Campbell is um running or is filed to run for Wayne Township constable.

Uh he's being challenged by Chair Eldridge based on vote history.

Um research from staff shows there is no primary vote history.

And given that Mr.

Campbell is not present, and this is an elective office, not a party office.

Um council, what's your recommendation?

We proceed.

It's just wait you'll hear it.

It's a case.

Communication says no ignore the following vote.

Well, I think that's any county.

We can't move it, so we may as well take it.

Okay.

Let's take a break for five minutes.

205.

Resession it is 210.

We took five minutes longer because of that announcement, but let's proceed.

Okay.

I know.

Okay.

So we're gonna proceed with the remaining candidate to challenges.

And it relates and the challenge is by Chair Eldridge, Sure Daryl Campbell.

Um the yeah, the challenge uh by Chair Eldridge for Daryl Campbell.

I mentioned it was for Wayne Township Constable.

Uh the reason is for vote history.

Uh research shows no primary vote history um on file.

Thank you.

Member of the members of the board, um, based off of the findings um that Director Becker has shared with you all in regard to the challenge of against Darrell Campbell, I agree, and I ask that you uh uphold this challenge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So Mr.

Campbell did not show up in person today.

Did he have any communication with the election board?

No.

Okay, how is he notified, please?

Uh and how was how was Mr.

Campbell notified?

Uh he would have received the notice, the letter in the mail.

Um, I would have to look to print uh or do you know if we have a an email on file, Chad?

If there's an email on file, he also got an email.

I don't have that at my um readily available.

Um we do have one precedent from today where the candidate did not show the potential candidate.

So given no communication, we'll proceed with the challenge.

Does anybody disagree with that?

Council.

No, you're perfectly fine to proceed.

They've received notice, I think, or at least the board has checked their box to provide notice, and so it's fully within the board's discretion to proceed if they'd like.

Okay, and we did so with another candidate, so I believe it's um so Madam Chair.

If I could, I I did get confirmation that he did get an he had an email address on file.

So he would have also received an email.

Okay, great.

Email and a letter.

Okay, okay, thank you.

Okay, so we have heard from the challenge of Darrell Campbell, his declaration of candidacy for Wayne Township Constable as a Democrat in this primary election has been challenged.

Um I have a motion with respect to this challenge.

I move to uphold the challenge on uh Daryl Campbell.

Second, it's been moved and seconded.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

And that leaves us with the remaining candidate 37 challenges for the party offices, party positions.

Um, do you have a recommendation, Council, on how we proceed with this?

Again, it's within your discretion.

So in this case, again, I think you would want to ensure with Director Becker about notice to make sure that the people on this list have adequately received it first.

Um, but when you look at this list, you'll notice that uh everybody on it.

Um the issue is vote history, which is the same issue that you've adjudicated continuously today.

So it I think when the board if it wants to decide to move forward today, it certainly can without people present.

Um, you know, the the issues the board needs to decide is if it's if it can reasonably you know ascertain the decision without the person here and whether or not um there's any negative impact on that person by them not being here.

Um I think you're you're probably fully fine to proceed if you'd like any thoughts.

Uh I would like to proceed just um because I know how the notice was uh sent out, but I think I think it deserves being explained, and I think that each name we should uh go and list each name, not just the remainder remaining uh the remainder of the individual names on this list.

I would like us to not just just to read those names and vote if we're going to do them since they are all uh their vote history.

Yes, so director Becker could read them and then say what the there's multiple ways you do it.

Director Becker could read them and say what the what the issues are to just have it on the record.

Um of course the motion you make could be a single in-mass motion.

You'll have to make an individual vote on each one, though.

Yeah, okay.

And I would um also want to make sure that the challenging party, the challenger is comfortable with that process, since they filed the challenge.

Absolutely, and then um probably before you take the vote, I would just double check one more time that there's nobody here.

Okay, yeah.

All right.

You mean before and before Patrick reads all the names and before all the you can do it now, and you can do it again at the end.

We can vote and suspend it if you'd like, madam chair.

Well, I will say, while this name list of names is being read, if anyone's in the room who's named, please raise your hand.

That'll be a way to uh cover both territories.

And um Chair Eldridge, are you comfortable with that process for the remaining challenges to do it as one action?

Uh it's all for voting history of some sort, they they don't meet the requirements that we would do it by Patrick naming all the remaining folks on the list, the reasons being voting history related, and that your challenge as long as you're comfortable with that.

So the way Madam Chair, great minds think alike, and I will follow your lead.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Okay, so let's proceed.

Um so let's make sure everybody understands we're gonna read through those who were challenged um today but did not show up or submit a written statement.

And I'd like some clarification.

Does the board want um me to read the the name the and the office and also the the challenge and risk research?

Is that how you would like to go forward with that, or just the name in the office?

I think the name in the office should be sufficient for the record, and we can also you have the research in front of you.

Right, we have the research and that can be attached to this global motion.

I would say the name and the office, and then just for the record, they're all a vote history challenge.

That would be in our motion.

Yeah.

In our motion.

Um I'll begin.

So as uh counselor mentioned, all of these um challenges uh the reason for challenges for vote history.

Um and I'll start through if I miss um anybody if you're tracking the board, please let me know.

Um Sarah Alganey for Democratic State Convention Delegate 11.

Kevin Ashburn, Democratic State Convention Delegate 54, Laura Bow for Democratic Precinct Franklin 5, as well as state convention delegate district.

I don't have that number.

34 um Duran Berger for precinct uh Democratic precinct committee person perry 11 and state convention delegate district 55 Alexander apologize.

Uh the information I have is uh Perry 13 in District 55 for Bruger and District 55.