Former GOP Congressional Candidate Arrested on Allegations of Madison County Ballot Theft

In an unsettling turn of events surrounding election integrity, Larry Lee Savage Jr., a former Republican candidate for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, has been charged with stealing ballots during a public voting machine test in Madison County. Savage, who had also been elected as a precinct committeeman in the May Republican primary, turned himself in to authorities Tuesday morning. The incident has raised serious questions within the Indiana political community and prompted condemnation from state GOP representatives.

The allegations stem from an Oct. 3 event when Savage participated in a public voting machine test, a crucial step in ensuring election accuracy in Indiana. Before each election, these tests are conducted in the presence of political representatives, candidates, the media, and the public. The process requires manually calculating results from pre-marked ballots, followed by verification through the voting machines to confirm accuracy. It was during this test, involving 136 ballots across four voting machines, that two ballots reportedly went missing. Surveillance footage later revealed Savage allegedly folding two ballots and placing them in his pocket, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The situation escalated when Savage reportedly approached Katherine Callahan, a former Republican auditor candidate for Madison County, and whispered, “f----- up count.” The missing ballots were later discovered in Savage’s vehicle following a search warrant. One ballot displayed a straight Republican selection, while the other remained blank. Despite his claims to investigators that he had no malicious intent and would have returned the ballots, text messages revealed he asked Callahan if anyone had noticed the missing ballots shortly after the test concluded. This discrepancy in his statements has led investigators to question his motives.

Savage defended his actions, stating he took the ballots under the impression that they were not real, citing comments made during the event. However, a recording from the event contradicts this, as officials clearly identified the ballots as “live election ballots.”

The repercussions for Savage have been swift. He now faces charges of destroying or misplacing a ballot and theft, both serious allegations with implications for election security. A spokesperson for the voting machine manufacturer characterized the incident as a deliberate act to undermine the test’s integrity, branding it as an act of “sabotage.”

Savage, who gained recognition in the May Republican primary by promoting himself as a staunch MAGA candidate, had garnered less than 2% of the vote in his race against Rep. Victoria Spartz and seven others. His recent actions, however, have left him isolated within his own party. Griffin Reid, a spokesperson for the state GOP, publicly condemned the incident, expressing the party’s commitment to election security: “We unequivocally condemn any form of criminal election interference,” Reid stated. “We appreciate law enforcement’s efforts in pursuing justice and will continue to monitor this situation as the process unfolds.”

As of now, an initial court appearance for Savage has not been scheduled, and no defense attorney has been listed in online records. The incident remains under investigation, casting a shadow over local election protocols and intensifying scrutiny on election security standards within Indiana and beyond. Larry L Savage bonded out on $500 this morning at the Madison County jail.