CROWN POINT | Voter interest in today's Lake County election appears to be spotty countywide but focused on a handful of intense suburban contests, county election officials say.

Michelle Fajman, county election director, said Monday only about 2,600 people have voted early either in person or by absentee ballots mailed into their office, a mere fraction of what is expected during the upcoming presidential election.

Sally LaSota, director of the Lake County Board of elections and registration, said "absentees are down when you consider that we usually have more than 13,000 absentee ballots cast during a presidential year."

Rudy Clay, the county's Democratic Party chairman, said today's turnout may be greater in municipalities that have more intensely contested races, namely Crown Point and Hobart. The defeat of incumbent mayors in those cities during the May primary have created wide open races.

The Hobart mayor's office is being contested by Democrat Brian Snedecor, Republican John Guthrie and political independent Eric Smith. In Crown Point, Democrat David Uran and Republican Gayle Van Sessen are facing off.

Republican GOP Chairman John Curley said he fears the low numbers of absentee ballots forecasts a slim voter turnout at today's polls.

Curley said he sees hot spots in Griffith, where high property taxes associated with servicing Calumet Township's poor has generated talk about Griffith leaving the township.

Republicans Glen "Bud" Gaby and George Jerome are challenging Democratic incumbents Linda Gretta Carroll and Wally Hartman for two Town Council seats there. The departure of another incumbent town councilman in Griffith leaves an open seat being contested by Democrat J. Patrick Janke and Republican Rick Ryfa.

Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, the state?s chief election officer, said Monday he will dispatch teams throughout the state to observe local elections.

Rokita and his deputies will spend the day monitoring polling places for accessibility issues and potential vote fraud.

"My deputies monitor polling places to instill voter confidence to make sure everyone's vote counts equally," Rokita said.

Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita is asking anyone who has complaints about voting irregularities or a lack of access to polling places to call his Hoosier Voter Hotline, (866) IN-1-VOTE.

The Lake County elections board also will field complaints at (219) 755-3795.

U.S. Attorney David Capp is asking anyone who has a substantial complaint about voting irregularities to call Assistant U.S. Attorney Bernard Van Wormer at (219) 937-5500.

Deputy Lake County Prosecutor Michael Greener will accept calls at (219) 755-3720, ext. 364, from anyone with evidence of election law violations.]]>