" The deputies checked with Delaware County Clerk Steve Craycraft, who said they were no more than basic public records.
Craycraft said county government had nothing to do with how a political party disposes of its records. He did say poll books used by the election board were locked in the county vault and would be disposed of properly.
Jim Corridan, state archivist and director of the Indiana Commission on Public Records, said the law required government to dispose of records in a manner that prevents them from being recreated.
That law does not apply to non-profit groups, although such groups are encouraged to adopt policies following state law and use shredding in the disposing of records, according to attorney Steve Murphy, who deals with public record questions.
Margie Landers, chairman of the Delaware County Democratic Party, said she wished party workers had not thrown the poll books in the trash, and did not believe it would be done again.
"I truly hated it happened," Landers said.
Delaware County Republicans shred their poll books in the same manner the local public records commission disposes of records."
----------------------------
There really is "nothing to see here". These are not stolen election materials-the republicans have a set too and will discard them as well.
Thanks for the clarification, the rest of the truth. I really hate slanted facts.
I'm working on the assumption the article is correct and it is the POLL BOOK. There's poll books and challenge lists. (I'm using my knowledge of what happens in Marion County, and I assume its similar statewide)
The two MAJOR political parties each have a challenge list. These are just name and addresses of registered voters of the precinct. Each party's judge or official challenger can use this to ensure only legitimate voters are voting in the precinct.
Voters who appear at a precinct whose name DOES NOT appear on the challenge list can be challenged. Occasionally the name is not on the challenge list but is listed in the poll book. At which time the challenge is dropped.
Each precinct only has ONE official poll book. At 6 PM after the signatures are counted the inspector, two judges, and two clerks sign the cover of the poll book certifying the voters who signed it did in fact cast a vote in the election. The description given in the article is for the POLL BOOK which contains name, address, DOB, signature copy, and voter ID number (typically drivers license number or last 4 of social security number).
Frankly if it were in fact the challenge list I would not be concerned all that much. If its the poll book that is, in my opinion, cause for concern. This is what determines who came to vote, and if there were a recount later on the ballots cast would not match the poll book if the poll book were in fact disposed of. Now if it turns out to be the challenge lists that were disposed of in the Dem's dumpster, those are not used in any recounts and there isn't cause for concern, IMO.
Considering this is another Gannett publication though for the original article this type of misreporting is not surprising if in fact its the challenge lists and not the official poll book.