Mar 15, 2012

Sen. Lugar ruled unable to vote at Indiana home

By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY Updated 1h ago
Updated 4:41 p.m. ET

Republican Sen. Richard Lugar has been declared ineligible to vote in his home precinct in Indiana.

The Indianapolis Star reports the Marion County election board voted 2-1 today on party lines against Lugar. The veteran senator's residency has been made an issue by his GOP challenger, state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, and Rep. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat also running for the Senate.

Two Democrats voted against Lugar, who sold his Indianapolis house after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976. He's been using the Indiana address on his driver's license and voter registration, even though he and his wife own a home in Virginia.

Last month, the state Election Commission unanimously ruled that Lugar is eligible to run for office in Indiana even though he gave up his residence there.

Lugar spokesman Andy Fisher denounced the Democrats on the county board and Treasurer Richard Mourdock, a Republican challenging Lugar in a primary, for a "personal attack" on Lugar.

"Today, the Democrat-controlled Marion County Election Board ignored the Indiana Constitution, the express direction given to Senator Lugar by the Marion County Voter Registration Board, and the opinions of three Indiana Attorneys General - the officials ultimately responsible for enforcing state election law - to reach a conclusion that Senator and Mrs. Lugar have incorrectly voted in their precinct since he became a U.S. Senator," Fisher said in a statement.

The IndyStar reports the Lugars could "submit new voter registrations that are based on a physical address in the county with which they currently have a connection," such as a family member's home or at their farm.

Sen. Lugar ruled unable to vote at Indiana home