Miller Wants Former Rival Arrested Over Ballot Selfie

CEDAR RAPIDS — Linn County Auditor Joel Miller asked police Thursday to arrest a former campaign rival of his for what Miller describes as misconduct at a polling place.Early voting began Oct. 13 in Linn County. Citing a state law, Miller said he had authority as auditor to order the arrest of Joe Stutler for abusing the process.According to a letter issued by Miller, three people provided written statements that Stutler on Thursday “admitted he was filling out his ballot next to the men’s restroom, which is not in the polling place or in a voting booth.”Further, Miller asserted, Stutler “was taking photos of his voted ballot instead of immediately returning it (to) a precinct election official.”He alleged Stutler’s behavior constituted “Election Misconduct in the Second Degree” under Iowa Code.Reached Thursday evening, Stutler, of Marion, said he hadn’t seen any warning that he couldn’t leave the polling place with his ballot.“I had to go to the bathroom, so I walked down the hall, filled out my ballot and brought it back,” he said.