Jay Kenworthy of the Indiana Republican Party said the Indiana GOP didn’t intend to challenge votes in such a way. “We don’t intend to take any actions of that kind with the foreclosure lists. We’re always on the lookout for fraudulent voting and funny business at the polls.”

Smith said the GOP was continuing in its “blatant, desperate attempts to disenfranchise voters.”

According to news reports, Republican officials went to Marion County Circuit Court on Tuesday claiming that training given to those who check absentee ballots was not sufficient. The judge subsequently ruled that absentee ballots that have been challenged would be examined later in the week, essentially becoming provisional ballots.

Absentee ballots must be signed so that election officials can compare them with signatures on voter registration cards. The GOP contended that poll workers were not trained well enough to challenge signatures and ensure accurate counting.

Marion County election officials at the center of the storm have said poll workers are trained according to state law.

According to Gavin, 455,035 absentee ballots had been submitted statewide on Friday.

Hoosier voting by the numbers

• Total registered voters: 4,513,601

• New voter registrations since 2006: 525,264

• New voter registrations in 2008: 345,582

• New and updated registrations: 818,091

• Absentee ballots cast so far: 455,035