Vigo County Clerk LeAnna Moore says a post-election canvass turned up information that was not included in the unofficial results her office released on election night, and her office is attributing the discrepancy to human error.
In a statement issued from the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the 43rd Judicial Circuit, Moore said all ballots cast in the May 5 primary were scanned, verified and accounted for on Election Day. The canvass — an internal audit Indiana law requires before an election can be certified — runs for 10 days following the election.
“During this process, it was discovered that not all of the information that had been accounted for on Election Day was reflected in the unofficial report released to the public on election night,” the statement said. “This was determined to be due to human error.”
The statement did not specify which races or precincts were affected, the size of the discrepancy, or whether the additional information would alter any vote totals reported on election night.
Moore framed the catch as evidence the system worked as designed.
“While situations like this can understandably raise questions, it also demonstrates that the safeguards built into the election process are working as intended,” the statement said. “Election integrity and transparency are always at the forefront of our office.”
The clerk’s office acknowledged that watching unofficial results shift after election night can rattle voters but said the canvass exists for exactly that reason — to identify and correct discrepancies before certification.
Vigo County voters cast ballots May 5 in a primary that drew unusual national attention because of the Republican contest in Senate District 38, where incumbent Sen. Greg Goode of Terre Haute fended off Vigo County Councilwoman Brenda Wilson, who carried President Donald Trump’s endorsement, along with first-time candidate Alexandra Wilson. Senate District 38 covers Vigo, Clay and part of Sullivan counties.
The reporting discrepancy is unlikely to disturb the headline result in that contest. Goode took roughly 54 percent of the vote across the district to Brenda Wilson’s 36 percent and Alexandra Wilson’s 10 percent — an 18-point margin over the nearest challenger that would require a substantial reallocation of Vigo County ballots alone to put into play. Goode advances to face Democrat Kacey Blundell, who was unopposed in her primary, in November.
Moore’s office is directing residents with questions to its Facebook page or to the clerk’s office at 812-462-3235. Members of the public are invited to attend election certification, which is scheduled to occur during the County Election Board meeting on May 15. The clerk’s office said additional details on the meeting will be released.
This story will be updated.
