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Record of Proceedings

Lake County Board of Elections Meeting - November 13, 2025

County Boards & Commissions — Thursday, November 13, 2025
BodyLake County, Indiana
SessionCounty Boards & Commissions
DateThursday, November 13, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 23:12

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

132025 if we could all please rise for the flood and the flag is hiding somewhere.

0:05

I think it will be a good thing.

0:12

And two ballot for which stands one nation under uh indivisible liberty and justice for thank you, everyone, and welcome.

0:21

If we could please have roll call.

0:24

Clark Brown.

0:25

President Mike Mellon.

0:27

I'm here.

0:28

John Reed.

0:28

Present serving as proxy for Mark Cavalier Reardon and Matt Fetch.

0:33

Present.

0:33

Chairman Smith.

0:34

I am here.

0:35

Um we have a quorum.

0:37

All members are present in person or by proxy.

0:40

Uh I don't show any approval of minutes.

0:42

Next order of business is provisional ballots.

0:46

And I believe we have four of them.

0:49

Who will be presenting these to the board?

0:51

Jenny, yes.

0:52

All right, Jenny, good morning.

0:53

Can you hear me that yes, I can thank you.

0:56

Jenny, you've got the floor.

0:58

Thank you.

0:59

You all have uh a list of the provisionals.

1:06

I will I'm sorry.

1:08

You know, it never is not funny.

1:11

That's a winner.

1:12

I can't say um our first voter.

1:18

Uh the envelope was marked not on poll list and name not on name is on list.

1:23

They they checked two different things and investigating.

1:28

Uh just we discovered that the voter or is registered at their old address, they had moved the registered at their old address, which was in the lake central district, but they moved into the handle bus district, so therefore they were not allowed to vote.

1:48

They did vote a provisional, but they could not vote on the machine because they were out of the district.

1:54

So they wouldn't be saved by the last because if they're not moved out of the district.

2:07

So they were they're not they weren't allowed to vote.

2:10

So Jenny's recommendation is to not count that ballot.

2:13

That is correct.

2:14

Okay.

2:14

Um any questions of Jenny or the or any other staff member by the board?

2:18

Now I'll entertain a motion to uh not count uh I guess we're calling as D14.

2:25

Is that what we're calling it?

2:26

Number one is the chair motion to not count D14.

2:30

Sorry, okay.

2:31

Motion by Clark Brown, second by Mr.

2:32

Mellon.

2:33

Any discussion?

2:33

Hearing none of those in favor of not counting uh provisional ballot number one from D14 signified by saying aye.

2:40

Aye, any opposed?

2:41

That motion carries not counted.

2:43

Jenny, number two.

2:44

Okay, number two.

2:46

Um this voter uh also moved and um is registered in Hammond, but wanted to vote.

2:57

Um in Shareville 17, where which is where they moved to.

3:03

So again, same situation.

3:05

Um looks like they registered, but they just registered too late.

3:08

Yes.

3:09

Okay, so this person, this voter will be okay for next election.

3:12

Correct.

3:12

Right.

3:13

Uh any questions of Jenny?

3:15

If none I'll understand a motion and not count provisional ballot number two.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Election Procedures█████████████████████████████████████████████66%
Procedural██████████████████27%
Pending Litigation█████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Board of Elections Meeting - November 13, 2025

The Lake County Board of Elections met on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the South Room/Media Room at 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point, Indiana. The meeting was called to order with all members present (Clerk Brown, Ms. Candelaria Reardon (by proxy), Mr. Mellon, Mr. Reed, and Chairman Smith). The board addressed provisional ballots, amended the agenda, consolidated multiple complaints against a respondent, and granted a continuance for a hearing.

Provisional Ballots

  • Ballot #1 (D14): Voter moved from Lake Central to Hanover district, not allowed to vote due to district change. Board unanimously voted not to count.
  • Ballot #2: Voter moved from Hammond to Shareville 17, registered too late for the election. Board unanimously voted not to count.
  • Ballot #3 (Shareville 32): Voter claimed registration eight weeks ago but was not found in the system—not registered. Board unanimously voted not to count.
  • Ballot #4: Voter registered one day after the close of registration (Oct 6 vs. Oct 7). Board unanimously voted not to count.
  • Signature Mismatch Provisional: A voter whose signature was questioned on Election Day responded quickly, stating her signature may have changed. Board members reviewed the documentation and unanimously voted to count the ballot.

Agenda Amendment

  • Chairman Smith noted that three items (2025-09 Krasinski v. St. John Early Voting, 2025-13 Patel v. Mongerie, and 2025-15 McIntyre v. CL Poll Worker) were listed on the agenda but had been referred to council for review. Mr. Fetch moved to amend the agenda to remove those items, seconded by Clerk Brown. The motion carried unanimously, and the agenda was amended.

New Business: Consolidation and Hearing on Complaints Against Mr. Purcell

  • The board consolidated four complaints (2025-10 Ruge v. Purcell, 2025-11 Callard v. Purcell, 2025-12 Bridgeman v. Purcell, 2025-14 Blum v. Purcell) on a motion by Mr. Fetch, seconded by Clerk Brown. The motion carried unanimously.
  • Respondent Mr. Purcell was not present, though he was notified. Complainants Mary Blum (2025-14) and Laura Bridgeman (2025-12) were present and testified under oath.
    • Ms. Bridgeman presented additional material: a police report filed after Mr. Purcell posted a photo of her on Facebook following his initial post offering $100 for “no votes.” She expressed concern for her job as a teacher.
    • Ms. Blum stated she warned Mr. Purcell that his actions were illegal, citing the election code, and that he responded he would fight it in court.
  • Counsel noted that the statute at issue (IC 3-14-3-19) makes it a Level 6 felony to induce or procure another person to vote. Counsel had contacted Mr. Purcell, who claimed the post was intended as satire and had a disclaimer. The board, however, noted that Mr. Purcell did not appear to present that defense.
  • Mr. Fetch moved to refer the matter to the Lake County Prosecutor’s office for violation of election law. Mr. Mellon expressed concern about the prosecutor’s track record and suggested a fine, but no legal mechanism for the board to impose a fine was identified. The motion to refer passed by voice vote with no opposition.

New Business: Continuance Request

  • 2025-08 Barnhart v. Cavazos: Complainant Suzy Barnhart requested a continuance of her hearing scheduled for November 18, 2025, because she was invited by the Indianapolis Colts to a Gold Star family ceremony honoring her fiancé, to be held at the same time in Indianapolis. The board granted the continuance and directed the parties to coordinate with staff to set a new date.

Key Outcomes

  • Provisional ballots: Four ballots not counted; one signature mismatch counted (all unanimous).
  • Agenda amended: Removed three items (2025-09, 2025-13, 2025-15) as they were under council review.
  • Consolidated complaints against Mr. Purcell: Four complaints consolidated and referred to the Lake County Prosecutor’s office for alleged violation of election law (IC 3-14-3-19).
  • Continuance granted: 2025-08 Barnhart v. Cavazos continued to a date to be coordinated.
  • Next meeting: Scheduled for Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the County Council Conference Room, due to Veterans Day affecting the usual council meeting schedule.

Meeting Transcript

132025 if we could all please rise for the flood and the flag is hiding somewhere. I think it will be a good thing. And two ballot for which stands one nation under uh indivisible liberty and justice for thank you, everyone, and welcome. If we could please have roll call. Clark Brown. President Mike Mellon. I'm here. John Reed. Present serving as proxy for Mark Cavalier Reardon and Matt Fetch. Present. Chairman Smith. I am here. Um we have a quorum. All members are present in person or by proxy. Uh I don't show any approval of minutes. Next order of business is provisional ballots. And I believe we have four of them. Who will be presenting these to the board? Jenny, yes. All right, Jenny, good morning. Can you hear me that yes, I can thank you. Jenny, you've got the floor. Thank you. You all have uh a list of the provisionals. I will I'm sorry. You know, it never is not funny. That's a winner. I can't say um our first voter. Uh the envelope was marked not on poll list and name not on name is on list. They they checked two different things and investigating. Uh just we discovered that the voter or is registered at their old address, they had moved the registered at their old address, which was in the lake central district, but they moved into the handle bus district, so therefore they were not allowed to vote. They did vote a provisional, but they could not vote on the machine because they were out of the district. So they wouldn't be saved by the last because if they're not moved out of the district. So they were they're not they weren't allowed to vote. So Jenny's recommendation is to not count that ballot. That is correct. Okay. Um any questions of Jenny or the or any other staff member by the board? Now I'll entertain a motion to uh not count uh I guess we're calling as D14. Is that what we're calling it? Number one is the chair motion to not count D14. Sorry, okay. Motion by Clark Brown, second by Mr. Mellon. Any discussion? Hearing none of those in favor of not counting uh provisional ballot number one from D14 signified by saying aye. Aye, any opposed? That motion carries not counted. Jenny, number two. Okay, number two.

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