State prepares for recount

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The recount commission met behind close doors to go over plans for next week's State Representative 26 recount. Republican Randy Truitt's 26 vote win is being disputed by Democrat John Polles.

Wednesday, a recount commission met with representatives for both parties. Bradley Skolnik, State Recount Director, said the meeting was to walk through the recount process.

"It provides an opportunity for the State Board of Accounts and the attorneys of the parties to work on the logistics so that the recount will proceed as smoothly as possible," he said.

But next week's recount of votes in Tippecanoe county could take a while. Lawrence Reuben, attorney for John Polles, said usually recounts are done by precinct. But, because Tippecanoe County's votes were at vote centers, and not at particular precincts, he believes the process of verifying votes will
take much longer. Reuben is also challenging the reliability of the vote centers, and is asking for a possible special election.

"By having this voter center thing and disrupting what we believe is the way the election has to be structures that is precinct by precinct, there's an issue with whether or not it's irregular enough to warrant a contest being granted, he said.

But Bill Bock, attorney for Randy Truitt, said the move is a delay tactic. He has asked the recount commission to dismiss the possibility of a special election.

"He did not specify the reason for his election contest which is required by state statute so essentially he's trying to keep a dispute open that doesn't exist, Bock said.

There is no word on when the recount commission will rule on the dismissal request.