Polles wants recount

LAFAYETTE - The race for Statehouse District 26 isn't over yet. Indianapolis Attorney Lawrence M. Reuben said he filed for the recount on behalf of democrat John Polles. Polles lost to republican Randy Truitt by 26 votes.

The petition was filed with the Indiana Secretary of State's election division in Indianapolis. It states the petitioner desires a recount of all votes at the election held on November 4, 2008.Reuben said the petition was filed for several reasons. "The vote totals are close enough we should ask for a recount," said Reuben. "I found it questionable the way the provisional ballots were handled, including the County Clerk making notes on the ballots."

Reuben said it was also bizarre that the election materials were not impounded immediately after election night. The petition also states, "The petitioner in good faith believes that: an electronic voting system malfunctioned, making it impossible to determine the candidate who received the highest number of votes."

Reuben said he was referring to a problem that came up on election night when the machines initially failed to read all the votes on some vote cards.

The recount involves 35 precincts in Tippecanoe County and three in Warren County.

Indiana State Police are expected to impound the voting materials until the state recount commission can review the ballots.