League of Women Voters files ethics complaint with Secretary of State of Indiana in Government and Politics

The Indiana chapter of the League of Women Voters has filed an ethics complaint against Secretary of State Diego Morales for using his office for self-promotion. The complaint points to communications distributed by Morales’ office where his name is printed larger than the office’s name. League of Women Voters chapter president Linda Hanson called the communications a campaign ploy and accused Morales of using taxpayer money for self-promotion rather than providing helpful information to election boards. One example cited in the complaint is an election security guide that cost $35,070 to produce and ship. Another example is voting signs distributed by Morales’ office that prominently feature his name. The complaint references a 2010 ethics law that prohibits state elected officials from using taxpayer money for self-promotion, with exceptions for public health or safety messages and compelling public policy reasons. The Secretary of State’s Office has not yet responded to requests for comment. The cost of the signage and whether polling locations are required to display them is also unknown. The ethics complaint raises concerns about Morales using his position to boost his own profile and calls into question the appropriateness of the communications distributed by his office.

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