As Trump complains of 'rigged' election, state officials find possible evidence of just that

With the Nov. 8 presidential election looming, the Indiana State Police are investigating "thousands" of cases of possible voter fraud in the Hoosier State.

Secretary of State Connie Lawson, a Republican, told WIXN-TV in Indianapolis that her office ran a report of the Statewide Voter Registration System and discovered that thousands of voters' birthdays and first names were changed. Lawson's office became aware of a potential issue with voter data after some voters visited Indianavoters.com to check their voter registration and found their information was incorrect.

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"These records were changed on paper forms, at the BMV [Bureau of Motor Vehicles] and online. At this time, my office is not sure why these records were changed, but we have evaluated the Statewide Voter Registration System and have found no indication it has been compromised," Lawson said.

However, she added that state officials do believe this could be a case of "voter fraud" and that the Indiana State Police are now looking into the matter as such. The revelation was reported by WXIN exactly 21 days before voters head to the polls to elect the next president.

Indiana will also elect its next governor after current Gov. Mike Pence was formally tapped to be Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's running mate in July. Pence withdrew his bid for re-election as Indiana's governor that same month.

Voter fraud has been a popular Trump campaign talking point, as the Republican nominee for president has often complained of a "rigged" election.

"And I’m telling you, Nov. 8, we better be careful, because that election’s gonna be rigged,” Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity in August. “And I hope the Republicans are watching closely, or it’s going to be taken away from us.”

Many Republicans have pushed back on the notion the election is "rigged" election, including the country's top elected Republican, House Speaker Paul Ryan (Wis.). Trump's one-time GOP primary rival Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), who is facing a tough re-election battle of his own in the Sunshine State, said during a debate with his Democratic rival Rep. Patrick Murphy on Monday, "This election is not being rigged."

President Barack Obama on Tuesday added to the bipartisan backlash against Trump's notion of a rigged election, saying the claim is "based on no facts" and that Trump should "stop whining."