County attorney rejects Mapleview voting complaints

Published 4:26 pm Saturday, December 8, 2012

An argument over voting issues on Election Day in Mapleview will not get its day in court.

Mower County Attorney Kristen Nelsen rejected complaints by Kris Finley and stated there was nothing that proved any criminal activity.

Finley claimed an election judge badgered her and her ex-husband before they tried to vote on Nov. 6. In another claim, Finley said Mapleview council member Simon Hancock was in the polling location before it opened at 7 a.m. Hancock denied those claims.

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“I went in a little after 7 [a.m.], and there were already two people besides the election judges, one voting and the other registering to vote,” He said.

Several election judges from Mapleview and City Clerk Arthur Kuchera said Hancock was not in the polling room before polls opened but was in a separate office inside that same building.

Finley claims Hancock was trying to prevent her ex-husband, Darin Finley, from voting because he has a Blooming Prairie address. However, Darin Finley said he has been living in Kris’ basement for several years, and the Finleys say he is eligible to vote in Mapleview. Finley believed Hancock persuaded the election judge to badger her and Darin about the living situation.

After Finley filed the complaint, Hancock then filed a complaint against Finley. He pointed out she has no egress windows in her basement, even though Darin is living there. Hancock has not heard about any action on the issue but said he is not raising any further complaints and is leaving it in the hands of the Mapleview fire chief.

“As long as they know about it, then that’s OK,” he said.

The next Mapleview City Council meeting is 7 p.m. Dec. 12.