Published: November 19, 2008 01:56 pm      

Recordings detail alleged voter fraud in Jeffersonville

Galligan says allegations are false; 21 voters subpoenaed

Audio recordings between a private investigator hired by former Jeffersonville Mayor Rob Waiz and several voters who used absentee ballots during the 2007 Democratic Party primary detail allegations of voter fraud that would have benefited Mayor Tom Galligan.

Galligan defeated Waiz during the race and then won the office that November.

Waiz hired the investigator after the primary to look into allegations of irregularities involving absentee ballots. State officials have since taken up that investigation. Subpoenas were recently issued in order to collect sworn depositions in the case.

In one of the recordings, a voter — whose name was not released — told the investigator that Galligan campaign workers showed up at his door asking him to fill out an absentee ballot application. And later, Galligan himself showed up and instructed him on how to vote.

Another voter, again unidentified, told the investigator that a campaign worker asked her to fill out a ballot application while she was visiting someone in Jeffersonville.

The voter informed the campaign worker that she was a Louisville resident and has never lived in Jeffersonville. But she was told that didn’t matter.

Her vote later showed up as being counted, Waiz said.

Galligan denied the claims, saying that none of it is true.

“They’re allegations,” he said. “It doesn’t warrant a comment.”

The allegations are among those at the center of an investigation by state officials and special prosecutor Ron Simpson, which has been in the works for nearly a year.

Simpson, from Harrison County, was appointed on the request of Clark County Prosecutor Steve Stewart, whose wife works in Galligan’s office.

Simpson said Tuesday that an initial investigation by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, the Indiana State Police and the Indiana Secretary of State has revealed no wrongdoing.

He was ready to file a report to that effect, but upon urging from Waiz, decided to subpoena 21 voters with questionable absentee ballots.

Sworn depositions will be taken under oath Friday, he said. Such statements can sometimes be different than those given off the cuff to a private investigator, Simpson said.

“I’m just glad to see that things are starting to move forward,” Waiz said. “I feel good that something will come out of it.”

Larry Wilder, attorney for the Galligan campaign, said he had discussed the issue with those who worked for the campaign.

“From what they have told me, nothing illegal had occurred,” Wilder said.

He said he was disappointed in the fact that Waiz had called for subpoenas to be issued, calling it a waste of taxpayer money.