GOP reacts to trashed voter reg scandal

AP Modified

Updated: Oct 18, 2012 9:46 PM

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP/WAVY) — The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office is investigating the trashing of eight voter registration forms on the last day that residents could register.

The forms were found in a trash bin behind a business Monday afternoon and 31-year-old Colin Small was arrested and charged with eight counts of disclosure of voter registration application, a felony.

Police say Small was a voter registration supervisor working for an independent private organization called Pinpoint, contracted by the Republican Party of Virginia.

A man says he found the forms including people's social security numbers, birth dates and phone numbers.

Hutcheson says there's no indication that there's a widespread problem.

Police brought the forms to Rockingham County Registrar Doug Geib.

Geib says it's not the customary way to delivery voter registration forms. But the people whose forms were trashed will be able to vote in the November election.

Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins released the following statement Thursday evening:

"We were alarmed by allegations recently made regarding an individual in Harrisonburg. The actions taken by this individual are a direct contradiction of both his training and explicit instructions given to him. The Republican Party of Virginia will not tolerate any action by any person that could threaten the integrity of our electoral process. The individual in question was fired immediately after we learned of his alleged actions. We are grateful to the local sheriff's office and Registrar for acting so quickly to protect our democratic process and will fully cooperate with any requests made by them.  However, since there is currently an investigation underway, we will refrain from any further comments until they have concluded their inquiry. "

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