Hearing in Leech Lake to look at alleged election fraud

A hearing on Thursday on the Leech Lake Reservation will determine whether there were irregularities in a tribal election earlier this month.

A judge will consider allegations made by two candidates who lost their election bids. They claim incumbent candidates used tribal funds to buy votes.

Tribal Chairman Archie LaRose supports the candidates and their claims. LaRose said he believes there's evidence of vote tampering and other irregularities.

"I just feel that there was a good possibility of double voting," LaRose said. "If that was the case, there's going to be a lot of evidence to clearly show that there was double voting, and if that is the case then there should be a whole new election."

LaRose claims that thousands of dollars worth of gasoline vouchers were given away by incumbent candidates on election day. LaRose has asked federal officials to investigate the claims.