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Board tables primary‑era complaint about Trimble, seeks state guidance
Summary
A complaint involving candidate Trimble was debated at length and tabled to the Sept. 3 meeting so staff can get clarification from the Indiana Election Division on whether the complaint alleges a statutory violation; members disagreed over whether the filing included enough detail to warrant a hearing.
The Monroe County Election Board discussed and then tabled a primary‑era complaint alleging improper offers connected to petition activity by a candidate identified in filings as Trimble.
Molly read guidance from the Indiana Election Division saying the burden is on the complainant to show that a candidate violated an election law and that IC 3‑6‑5‑31 governs investigations. Some board members said the complaint, as filed, did not reference a specific Indiana code provision and therefore lacked sufficient detail to support a hearing; others urged the board to allow the complainant to present evidence at a hearing. "I do not believe there is enough here to warrant a hearing," one board member said, while another asked that the complainant be given the chance to state whether she has evidence to present.
Given the conflicting guidance, the board voted to table the question of whether to hold a hearing until the Sept. 3 meeting and directed staff to consult the Indiana Election Division and ask the complainant if she can provide evidence for a hearing. The board emphasized that, as presented, the complaint would not remove the candidate from the ballot and is not time‑sensitive in the same way as other filings that affect ballot composition.
