A Marion County Circuit Court judge has ruled that Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White was not eligible to be a candidate for the office, and that White’s Democratic challenger Vop Osili should be certified as the secretary of state. The matter now goes back to the Indiana Recount Commission.
The ruling by Judge Louis Rosenberg stems from a civil lawsuit by the Indiana Democratic Party. It sets aside the previous decision of the Indiana Recount Commission to allow White to remain in office.
Democrats argued that White illegally registered to vote in the 2010 primary at his ex-wife’s address when he also had a condo with his then-fiancee. They say that makes his candidacy invalid, renders him ineligible to hold office, and installs Democratic candidate Vop Osili as secretary of state.
White still faces criminal charges including voter fraud. A Hamilton County judge refused to dismiss the seven felony counts, including voter fraud, White is facing. The judge said Wednesday that White’s position as Secretary of State has no bearing on the court case, and there is no legal authority limiting a prosecution of White.
Source: Judge: Indiana secretary of state was ineligible to run – 13 WTHR.