A surveillance video capturing a Democratic operative's interaction with a ballot drop box in Montana sparks concerns over election security in a highly contested Senate race.
According to the Washington Examiner, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has formally requested the Department of Justice to investigate an incident involving a Democratic operative who allegedly attempted to tamper with a ballot drop box at the Glacier County elections building.
The incident has gained significant attention as it occurs during one of the nation's most competitive Senate races between Democratic incumbent Jon Tester and Republican challenger Tim Sheehy, a contest that could potentially determine control of the Senate chamber.
The NRSC's general counsel, Ryan Dollar, has addressed a formal letter to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, urging an immediate investigation into what they describe as a "disturbing incident." The committee's request emphasizes the serious nature of potential ballot box tampering, especially when involving professional political operatives.
The matter has raised additional concerns due to the familial connection between U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich and Dylan Laslovich, who serves as Senator Tester's chief of staff. The NRSC has explicitly called for the U.S. Attorney to set aside these family ties in pursuing the investigation.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has offered an explanation for the incident, characterizing the individual as a poll observer. They maintain that the person was checking the security of a new ballot box and assert that neither the box nor any ballots were compromised during the interaction.
Following the incident, the DSCC confirmed that the individual would no longer continue in their role. The Montana Secretary of State's Office has identified the person in the surveillance footage as Laszlo Gendler.
From the NRSC's letter to U.S. Attorney Laslovich, Dollar emphasized:
For anyone to tamper with an absentee ballot drop box, let alone a professional political operative supporting a United States Senator's campaign, is nothing less than an assault on Montana's elections and the will of its voters.
The chain of reporting began with the Glacier County election administrator alerting the Montana Secretary of State's Office, which subsequently informed law enforcement authorities. This protocol activation demonstrates the serious nature of potential election interference concerns.
The NRSC maintains that the DSCC's decision to remove the employee from their position raises additional questions about potential broader involvement and underlying motivations. They argue that a thorough investigation would help restore public confidence in election integrity.
The incident has highlighted the importance of ballot drop box security during election seasons. The NRSC's letter specifically emphasized that swift action from the U.S. Attorney's office would serve to deter similar incidents and strengthen public trust in the electoral process.
The U.S. Attorney's office has not yet provided any comment on the investigation request. Meanwhile, the DSCC's previous statement indicated that the incident occurred contrary to their established procedures, leading to immediate personnel action.
The timing and location of this incident bring added importance to the investigation request. Montana’s Senate race is one of the critical battlegrounds that could shape the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, highlighting any potential election security issues. The alleged tampering attempt and the subsequent investigation requests underscore the high tensions around election security in tightly contested races, raising questions about ballot security and the involvement of political operatives in election processes as federal authorities review the NRSC’s request.
