A former Republican congressional candidate from Indiana, Larry Savage Jr., has been arrested and charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing ballots during a public test of the state’s voting system. Savage, who identifies as a “MAGA Candidate” for the 2024 U.S. House of Representatives elections, was taken into custody after officials discovered missing ballots during a technical test of voting machines at the Madison County Government Center on October 3, 2024.
Savage’s campaign, which aimed to promote “fair and transparent elections,” ended unsuccessfully earlier this year, as he placed sixth in the Republican primary for Indiana’s Fifth District, receiving just 1.9% of the vote. Despite his loss, Savage remained active in his local political community, serving as an elected precinct committeeman. His actions during the recent test of the county’s voting machines, however, have now drawn scrutiny and led to serious legal trouble.
The incident occurred during a test organized under the Voting System Technical Oversight Program (VSTOP). This test involves the use of a set of pre-audited ballots marked with predetermined votes for various candidates and public issues to ensure the voting machines are functioning correctly. After such tests, these ballots are handled similarly to those cast on election day, reinforcing the importance of accuracy and security during the process. Representatives from political parties, candidates, the media, and members of the public are invited to witness the testing to ensure transparency.
On the day of the incident, four voting machines were being tested using 136 actual ballots marked specifically for testing purposes. However, after the test concluded, officials noticed discrepancies in the tabulation, with two ballots missing from the expected total. Investigators launched an inquiry, and video evidence revealed that Savage was actively engaged in the testing process, having received instructions about the nature of the ballots being used.
The surveillance footage, which was also livestreamed on the Madison County government’s website, shows Savage folding two ballots and placing them in his pocket approximately 12 minutes into the test. This behavior was immediately suspicious to witnesses, including a woman attending the event who had been streaming it on Facebook Live. Savage, perhaps realizing the gravity of his actions, reportedly approached the woman shortly after pocketing the ballots and made a cryptic remark about “fed up ballots.” Alarmed, the woman asked election officials to verify if any ballots were missing, which eventually led to the discovery of the theft.
Savage’s actions were further documented through his interactions on the woman’s livestream. He allegedly posted several comments admitting to taking the ballots, including one where he joked about the test being “3 ballots short!!! lol” and added, “Don’t take anything.” Though one of his comments was cut off in the screenshots, these messages provided direct evidence of his involvement in the theft. Witnesses outside the building reported that Savage later showed another individual the stolen ballots and received a congratulatory pat on the back in response.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Savage’s residence, where they discovered the missing ballots inside his vehicle. When officers confronted him at his home, Savage offered a range of justifications for his actions. He claimed that a county election official had told him the ballots used in the test were merely samples, which led him to believe it was permissible to take them. In the recorded footage of the encounter, Savage is heard explaining, “I rolled one up, put it in my pocket… I didn’t know we couldn’t take the thing. They even say ‘sample’ on them.”
Savage also argued that since he had arrived ten minutes late to the test, he may have missed any explicit instructions against taking the ballots. However, investigators later refuted this claim, stating that footage from the event clearly showed Savage never seeking permission to remove the ballots. When confronted with this evidence, Savage admitted that he did not ask for permission but maintained that he assumed the ballots were “fake” and, therefore, harmless to take. He likened the situation to taking free samples at a store, saying, “If you got to Payless, or go wherever, it says sample and you usually can take a sample. So that is the way I took it. I thought they were fake fing ballots.”
During the encounter with police, Savage expressed frustration and alleged that he was being targeted for his political beliefs. “They’re coming after us patriots. They don’t want us to be Americans anymore,” he told officers, implying that his arrest was part of a broader political attack. He dismissed the situation as “political bulls,” attempting to frame his actions as a misunderstanding rather than a deliberate crime.
However, court documents revealed that Savage’s claim of ignorance was disingenuous. Investigators found text messages on his phone indicating that he was fully aware of the legal consequences of taking ballots from the facility. These messages further undermine his defense and suggest that the theft was intentional.
Following his arrest, Savage was released on a $500 bond. Though he has yet to face a formal court hearing, the incident has already attracted widespread attention due to his previous campaign rhetoric about election integrity. Many have noted the irony of a candidate who campaigned on restoring fair elections being charged with mishandling election materials.
The upcoming legal proceedings are expected to shed further light on Savage’s motives and actions. His case underscores the importance of maintaining strict protocols around election procedures, even during testing phases, to prevent potential misconduct. With election integrity remaining a contentious issue in national discourse, incidents like these highlight the need for vigilance, transparency, and accountability at every stage of the electoral process.
