The Democratic Party chairman of Madison County Indiana has been arrested on vote fraud charges. (Hat tip: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus.)

ANDERSON, Ind. — The Madison County Democratic Party chairman was one of two men arrested on vote fraud charges Tuesday.

Thomas Ashley, 70, the county Democratic chairman, and Kyle Barber, 47, are free on $5,000 bond each from the Madison County Jail. Barber was booked on 12 counts of vote fraud and three counts of obstruction of justice, and Ashley was booked on two counts of vote fraud.

Barber was identified as Ashley’s son-in-law by WTHR (Channel 13), the Indianapolis Star’s news-gathering partner.

UPDATE at 12/10/04 12:51:47 pm:

The arrests may be unrelated to the 2004 election; according to WISH-TV in Indianapolis, the investigation began in 2003. (Hat tip: zombie.)