RTC accuses registrar of election improprieties

SHARON — The Republican Town Committee is accusing the Democrats of impropriety in November’s municipal election.

In December, Republican Town Committee Chairman David Helming filed two complaints with the State Election Enforcements Commission against Sharon Democratic Registrar Liz Piel.

In his letter to the commission, Helming alleges that Piel violated state absentee ballot laws by mishandling absentee ballot applications. He claims that, just before the election, Piel photocopied an absentee ballot application from the Internet and sent it to several dozen voters in town, unsolicited. Helming also said in his letter that, according to the state Constitution, any person distributing five or more applications must register with the town clerk and must file a list of all voters who were sent the applications.

In a second complaint to the commission, Helming alleges that, on the night of the election (Nov. 3), instead of putting the town’s list of registered voters in the town clerk’s office, Piel instead put the list of registered voters in the registrars of voters’ cabinet at Town Hall.

Helming wrote in the complaint that, the morning after the election, the list was discovered to be missing.

“Apparently, [Piel] took the materials home so that copies could be made of the list,� Helming wrote. “[Piel] then returned the list to the Town Clerk’s office after lunch on Nov. 4.�

He added that the committee is concerned that absentee ballot applications for the 2010 congressional and gubernatorial election could be sent to all Democrats who did not vote in the November 2009 election.

In an interview with The Lakeville Journal last week, Helming said he is worried about the integrity of the voting process.

“This upcoming election is very important because people will be voting for both state and federal positions,â€� Helming said. “So if improprieties are still going to happen at a local level,  we’re worried that it could happen at a state level and will have greater implications. Some might say that this isn’t a big thing because these kinds of things happen all the time. It is a big thing if it happens all the time because the laws were put into effect to be followed.â€�

Piel did not return calls for comment for this story.