Glacier County ballot box video sparks controversy

GLACIER COUNTY – Election Day in America is less than two weeks away – tensions between Republicans and Democrats are at a fever pitch, and Montana is home to one of the most critical U.S. Senate races in the country, pitting Tim Sheehy against Jon Tester.

The perfect storm for the ballot box controversy.

On Wednesday afternoon, news spread across the country of a video showing a person appearing to pull on a ballot box in Browning, Glacier County, Montana.

The ballot box is located at the Glacier County Satellite Office in Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation and is one of two ballot boxes in the county.

The person in the video was identified as Laszlo Gendler, an employee of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

In the video you can see Gendler walking up to the box and pulling on it. He then steps back and appears to fire off a text message before taking a photo of the box.

Gendler then reaches for the ballot box a few more times before leaving the crime scene.

The video was seen by Glacier County elections director Crystal Cole and forwarded to Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen.

Because of his connection to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Republicans quickly accused Gendler of election manipulation.

Jacobsen released the following statement: “Footage has surfaced of a D.C. Democratic operative tampering with a ballot box in Glacier County. This is not speculation – it is caught on camera…we are currently investigating this matter with the assistance of law enforcement and will continue to closely monitor the actions of the Montana Democratic Party.”

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Glacier County ballot box controversy

Gendler was then brought in for questioning by the Glacier County Sheriff's Office.

Glacier County Undersheriff Tom Seifert told MTN that the investigation was completed immediately and that all circumstantial evidence was unsubstantiated.

No charges were filed and Gendler was released.

Glacier County Prosecutor Terryl Matt said: “After reviewing the evidence, including the footage, we have concluded that the matter is without merit. The behavior captured on video does not constitute a legitimate attempt to manipulate the ballot box or the electoral process. Glacier County takes seriously and investigates all potential cases of election manipulation to ensure the integrity of our democratic process.”

A spokesman for DSCC, Gendler's employer, said: “Election observers are not instructed to touch ballot boxes… Gendler attempted to ensure that a new ballot box was attached to the wall.”

Cole, the county elections director, was initially suspicious of the actions in the video because she claimed her office had not been contacted by the Montana Democratic Party that they would send someone to check the box's security.

Out of an abundance of caution, the DSCC has relieved Gendler of his duties.

Heavy fines and up to five years in prison are imposed for interfering in elections at polling stations.