Investigative authorities in Montana are looking into a potential ballot box tampering incident linked to a Democratic Party affiliate.
According to Fox News, a video surfaced showing Laszlo Gendler, with ties to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, allegedly making unauthorized contact with a ballot box during a high-stakes electoral contest in Montana.
Glacier County's election administrator, Crystal Cole, sparked the investigation after witnessing the suspicious activity on surveillance footage. Montana's Secretary of State promptly received the communication about the irregularity, initiating an official probe into the matter. It occurred amid the fervor of the 2024 elections, spotlighting a fiercely contested Senate race and a Congressional district battle.
Laszlo Gendler had explained his actions were to inspect the security of the installment of a new ballot box. However, the Glacier County Elections office neither provided pre-notification nor gave subsequent approval, casting a shadow of doubt over his intentions. David Bergstein, representing the DSCC, clarified that Gendler's actions were not in keeping with the committee's standard procedures and announced his reassignment from current duties.
The incident not only raises questions about ballot security but also about the guidelines followed by political party operatives during elections. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee distanced itself from the behavior, emphasizing that Gendler was acting outside the realm of assigned duties. "Their actions were not by our procedures and out of an abundance of caution they will no longer be doing this work moving forward," affirmed Bergstein.
Montana's Secretary of State took the issue seriously enough to involve the Glacier County Sheriff, intending to thoroughly investigate the extent of any potential electoral malfeasance. This move underscores the heightened sensitivity around election security, particularly in a political climate charged with claims of electoral irregularities.
In an email, Crystal Cole expressed her concerns to higher officials, stating, "The MT Dem Party did not notify the Elections office... they would be sending someone to the ballot box to check how secure it was, so on camera it looks like he was tampering [sic] with the box."
The community and electoral stakeholders in Montana are particularly vigilant this election cycle, noted for its critical importance due to the involvement of high-profile races that could influence the balance of power in Congress.
The very notion of ballot tampering has propelled local citizens and party affiliates to demand stringent security measures and transparent investigative processes.
The Montana Democratic Party, queried about the incident, chose not to issue a comment on the ongoing investigation, perhaps indicating the delicacy of the situation given the political implications. This non-response has not quelled public discourse but fueled it, with citizens and officials alike calling for clarity and accountability.
David Bergstein's conversation with the media shed some light, albeit limited, on the intentions behind the controversial contract with the ballot box. "Poll observers are instructed not to touch ballot boxes. This individual was attempting to ensure a new ballot box was secured to the wall, neither the ballot box nor ballots were affected."
Reassurances from the DSCC notwithstanding, the inquiry by the Glacier County Sheriff into the matter continues, with the political stakes high and the public's trust in the electoral process hanging in the balance.
The inquiry into Laszlo Gendler's actions represents a focal point of broader concerns over election integrity in Montana. With the matter still under the sheriff's review, outcomes from this investigation could influence public confidence in the electoral system, while also potentially affecting future protocols concerning election security and oversight.
