National
01.09.08
Voter cited by opponents of Indiana's ID law was reported to be registered in two states. Today it was reported that one of the individuals used by opponents to the Indiana Voter ID law as an example of how the law hurts older Hoosiers is registered to vote in two states. Faye Buis-Ewing, 72, has been telling the media she is a 50-year resident of Indiana, but has since admitted to registering to vote in both Florida and Indiana. In November 2006, Buis-Ewing tried to use her Florida driver's license to vote in the Indiana elections. When poll workers informed her that she could not vote without a valid Indiana photo ID and offered her a provisional ballot, she declined. Subsequently, the Indiana League of Women Voter's trumpeted Ewing's case to the media as an example of disenfranchisement under Indiana's voter ID law, and New York University's Brennan Center for Justice cited Ewing's case in a "friend of the court" brief filed with the Supreme Court in opposition to the law. KPC News has more on the story.

Alabama
3.18.08
A Hale County grand jury indicted former Circuit Court Clerk Gay Nell Tinker on 13 vote fraud-related charges. According to Attorney General Troy King's office, the indictment charges Tinker with nine counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, an absentee voter affidavit; two counts of promoting illegal absentee voting by intentionally soliciting or promoting illegal absentee voting; and two counts of first-degree perjury for falsely certifying as to who signed an absentee voter affidavit. Six of the counts involve voting in a May 3, 2005 election with the others stemming from elections in the fall of 2004. The Birmingham News has more on the story. And, in a press release the Attorney General stated, "Vote fraud is a serious crime. It is not a crime against just an individual voter or a particular candidate. It is a crime against democracy, itself. When it is committed - as charged in these indictments - by the very custodian of the election system, a circuit clerk, it is even more grievous."

11.02.07
The Alabama Attorney General filed court papers Thursday naming state Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, and others as suspects in a voter fraud investigation in west Alabama.  The court papers also accuse Circuit Judge Marvin Wiggins of trying to impede the Hale County investigation to "protect members of his family," including Singleton.  Attorney General Troy King asked the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to force Wiggins to step aside from one part of the voter fraud investigation because his sister, former Hale County Circuit Clerk and absentee election manager Gay Nell Tinker; his brother-in-law and former bailiff, Sen. Singleton; and his first cousin, Carrie Reaves, "are suspects in the instant investigation and are directly benefiting from the court's quashing of the search warrant and subpoenas."  The charges stem from a special election held in 2004 to fill a vacant state Senate seat.  Singleton, then a member of the Alabama House, won that Senate race. ("Legislator Suspect in Vote Fraud", The Montgomery Advisor, 11/2/07)

08.22.07
The Montgomery Advertiser and The Tuscaloosa News report that a Hale County grand jury indicted Rosie Lyles and Valada Paige Banks (a former Greensboro City Council member) on Thursday on multiple felony charges related to vote fraud in two Democratic primary elections. Both women were charged with (1) second-degree possession of a forged instrument — an affidavit for an absentee voter — with the knowledge that it was forged, and (2) four counts of promoting illegal absentee voting. If convicted on the possession charge, Lyles and Banks could face one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 each. The charge of promoting illegal absentee voting is an unclassified felony, punishable by one to two years in prison and fines of $500 to $2,000 for each count. Ann Langford, a clerk in the Hale County probate judge's office, said that the number of absentee ballots has declined in every election since 2000. "By no means did they go away or did the fraud go away," she said. One factor that may have contributed to the decrease, according to Langford, was that volunteer poll watchers working for candidates or political parties were allowed to sit in the absentee vote office and observe for the five weeks the office was open. ("Woman indicted in vote fraud case", The Montgomery Advertiser, 08/22/07)

07.13.07
Two accused of casting false absentee ballots in Alabama House race, one former House candidate. ("2 accused of casting false absentee ballots in Alabama House race", The Mobile Press Register, 07/12/07)

Alaska

American Samoa

Arizona

Arkansas

California
4.09.08
On Tuesday, Devon Derrel Goodlow from Acampo pleaded guilty in San Joaquin County Superior Court to vote fraud charges. In 2006, Goodlow registered voters under the fictitious name of Felix Atuna. He was hired to register voters for the Proposition 84 campaign and decided to ease the process by making up the names of voters by the box load, according to San Joaquin County Registrar Austin Erdman. Erdman said his staff thought there was something fishy going on when they found four registration cards for "Felix Atuna" living at 622 N. Sacramento St., the address of the Lodi chapter of the Salvation Army. "There were literally boxes (of voter registration cards) that looked like they were written by the same person," Erdman said. Goodlow pleaded guilty for attempting to register "Atuna" and was sentenced to six months in jail and five years' formal probation. He also was ordered not to engage in any voter registration activity for the term of his probation. "This case reinforces the fact that those who attempt to alter or pad the voter rolls with fictitious names will be caught, and they will be punished," Secretary of State Deborah Bowen said. The Stockton Record has more on the story here.

2.12.08
Chris Kavanagh, who faces six felony counts for allegedly misrepresenting where he lives, has resigned from his post on the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board. The criminal charges against Kavanagh are still pending, and he's due back in Alameda County Superior Court on Feb. 22 for a preliminary hearing. The criminal charges include four counts of voter fraud, one count of perjury, and one count of grand theft for accepting a monthly stipend and health insurance while serving on the board. Kavanagh's resignation was expressed in a letter where he acknowledged that he didn't "technically comply" with Berkeley's residency requirements. The San Jose Mercury News has more on the story.

01.11.08
Facing charges of bribery, extortion, and election fraud, San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew agreed to resign from office on Thursday. In November, Jew pleaded not guilty to federal bribery, extortion, and fraud charges for allegedly demanding $80,000 from restaurant owners to expedite permits and other business with the planning department. In exchange for his resignation, city officials agreed to drop their ethics investigation and a civil lawsuit that sought to remove him from the Board of Supervisors. Jew also still faces separate state charges for allegedly lying about living in San Francisco in order to qualify to represent the city's western neighborhoods. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges as well. ("San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew to resign in deal with city", San Jose Mercury News, 1/11/08)

11.05.07
A Fair Oaks couple charged with voter fraud in the largest school bond election in county history was sentenced to 60 days in jail or 360 hours of community service Friday in Sacramento Superior Court.  David and Tarah Meyer-Martin, husband and wife, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of fraudulently voting in an election where they were not legally registered.  Sacramento Superior Court Judge Gary Ransom also sentenced the couple to three years' informal probation.  The Sacramento Bee has more on the story

10.27.07
Berkeley rent board member Chris Kavanagh was charged Friday with an additional count of voter fraud for allegedly voting in a Berkeley election when he actually lived in Oakland. Kavanagh pleaded not guilty to that count and five other charges first lodged last month by Alameda County prosecutors. On September 21, Kavanagh was arrested on three felony charges of voter fraud, one perjury charge, and one count of grand theft for accepting a monthly stipend and health insurance benefits while serving on the rent board. The San Francisco Chronicle has more on the story.

09.22.07
Chris Kavanagh, a member of the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, faces three counts of voter fraud and one count each of grand theft and perjury, according to Alameda County District Attorney Thomas Orloff.  Kavanagh was arrested on Friday on charges that he (1) made false statements in papers he filed to run for office and (2) registered to vote in a place where he was not eligible.  Prosecutors also claim Kavanagh committed grand theft by receiving up to $500 a month for serving on the rent board.  The San Diego Union-Tribune has more on the story.

09.06.07
Court proceedings for a Fair Oaks couple charged with voter fraud in a Folsom Cordova Unified School District bond election have been continued until Oct. 4 in Sacramento Superior Court. David Martin and Tarah Meyer-Martin were charged by the Sacramento County District Attorney's office in July with voter fraud. The couple allegedly filled out and signed voter registration cards, claiming they resided at an apartment where they never actually lived in order to gain eligibility to vote in the March 27 school bond election. The Sacramento Bee has rest of the story.

08.21.07
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Ed Jew, San Francisco supervisor, was in court yesterday, where he pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges alleging perjury, making false statements, and voter fraud. Prosecutors allege that Jew did not live in the city's Sunset District as he claimed, but instead lived in Burlingame. Prosecutors claim that Jew lied about where he lived in order to run for office and vote in local elections. The judge in the case set a tentative date of September 28th for jury selection to begin. If Jew is convicted on any of the charges, he would be forced out of office. Meanwhile, Jew is also being investigated by the FBI on suspicion that he solicited or extorted a bribe from a group of neighborhood businessmen. The San Francisco Chronicle has the rest of the story.

Colorado
12.04.07
A recent audit by Colorado state auditors found that felon voters, double voters, double registrants and deceased voters still appear on the state's voter roll. The audit found that during the November 2006 election, 3,533 people were registered twice, 401 felons were registered and 380 dead people were on the rolls; however, only seven people voted twice, and only eight felons voted. Auditors also worried about Colorado's compliance with the Help America Vote Act. The state missed a January 2006 deadline to set up a new computerized database for voter registration. A month earlier, the state ended a $10.1 million contract with Accenture to build the database. According to the Colorado Secretary of State, the new vendor, Saber, will have the system done by April 2008. The Durango Herald has the rest of the story.

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida
12.17.08
Authorities have arrested two Stuart residents accused of committing voter fraud by illegally participating in an election. An audit of voting records determined that three individuals on the list voted in violation of their status as convicted felons. A warrant for the third individual is pending. WPBF-TV 25 News has more on the story here.

06.11.08
William Murray of Nokomis has been arrested for voting twice in the 2002 election. According to Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent, Murray voted by absentee and then again at the polls on November 5, 2002. Dent contacted the voter in case there had been a mistake, and Murray admitted to the offense saying that it was, "her job to prevent such an occurrence." Murray has been charged with casting more than one ballot and has been released from Sarasota County Jail on $1,000 bail. WWSB ABC Channel 7 has the story here.

Georgia
09.06.08
A Chattooga County grand jury indicted suspended Chattooga County State Court Judge Carlton Vines on Friday afternoon in connection with a voter fraud investigation. Vines was indicted on charges of illegal possession of ballots, conspiracy to commit election fraud, and false swearing. He was released on his own recognizance. Absentee ballots decided a close race for State Court judge in that election. Vines beat incumbent Sam Finster by 125 votes. Finster won the ballot box 2,119 votes to 1,943, but lost the absentee vote 336 to 637. Investigators from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Secretary of State’s Office, and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council have visited Chattooga County to collect evidence and interview individuals since the investigation began in late 2006. The Rome News-Tribune has more on the story here and here.

02.15.08
The State Election Board fined a Valdosta nursing home employee $1,000 for improperly assisting residents with registering and absentee voting. Courtney Griener, Activities Director at Lakehaven Nursing Home, acknowledged to the board that she had completed voter registration paperwork for two residents and completed absentee ballots for three residents. The Jacksonville Times-Union has the rest of the story.

12.14.07
Practices of "convenience voting" in Calhoun County and improper ballot assistance in Americus were ordered to stop and deemed worthy of criminal sanctions after hearings on the two complaints were held earlier this week. Acting on the Inspector General's recommendations Monday, the State Elections Board voted 4-1 to issue a formal cease and desist order against Calhoun County Elections Superintendent Annie Doris Holder and Chief Registrar Calvin Harp, and refer the case to the Georgia Attorney General for further action on the convenience voting complaint, including corrective instructions and sanctions for violating several Georgia laws. In related news, the investigation into former Americus mayoral candidate James Bryant's alleged 2005 "assistance" to elderly absentee voters progressed on Monday, as the state elections board, attorney general's office, and Bryant agreed to a formal consent order, reprimand, and $600 fine. Bryant initially denied the allegations that he "improperly assisted six elderly voters with their ballots," but after the case was heard by the Office of State Administrative Hearings, he "admitted to the conduct and wanted to resolve the case." The Albany Herald has the rest of the story.

Guam

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois
08.13.08
Two former campaign workers for State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan) have been indicted for forging approximately 30 signatures on ballot petitions. Kenneth Davison, of Waukegan, and Jerry Knight, of Zion, were both indicted on charges of forgery and perjury by a Lake County grand jury. Charles Zaler, an attorney for the state Appellate Prosecutor's Office, said the two were among several people paid to circulate petitions last fall for Link’s re-election bid. The petitions were investigated earlier in the year under a criminal probe by the State’s Attorneys office. The Daily Herald has more on the story here.

03.25.08
Anish Eapen, ward superintendent for Alderman Bernard Stone (50th), was indicted Monday for allegedly using his badge and business cards to manipulate absentee votes in two hotly contested elections. Eapen and Armando Ramos were indicted on multiple counts of absentee ballot violations and mutilation of election materials, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office. Assistant State's Attorney Lynn McCarthy said Eapen misled voters about who could vote via absentee ballot, collected ballots from voters' homes, sat in the same room with voters as they voted, and mailed the ballots for them. In one instance, McCarty said, Eapen marked a ballot for a voter before sealing the envelope and mailing the ballot. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned on April 9. WBBM News Radio 780 has more on the story here.

12.30.07
Bond has been set in the cases of Anish Eapen and Armando Ramos who were arrested on January 28 for absentee ballot fraud and mutilation of election materials. Bond was set at $50,000 for Eapen, a Ward Superintendent, and $40,000 for Ramos. Cook County assistant state's attorney Lynn McCarthy said that Eapen misled voters about who could vote via absentee ballot, collected ballots from voters' homes, sat in the same room with voters as they voted, and mailed the ballots for them. Ramos likewise is said to have solicited voters to vote absentee, collected completed ballots, and mailed them for voters. The two men allegedly worked to improperly steer absentee ballots in support of Chicago Alderman Bernard Stone (D-50th). The Chicago Sun-Times has more on the story here. The Chicago Sun-Times has more on the story here.

12.29.07
Two men, including a ward superintendent, have been arrested and charged for their role in a Chicago absentee ballot fraud scheme. Ward Superintendent Anish Eapen has been charged with two counts of official misconduct, three counts of absentee ballot fraud, and one count of mutilation of election materials. Eapen allegedly worked in tandem with Armando Ramos, an unemployed student. Ramos faces two counts of absentee ballot fraud and two counts of mutilation of election materials. A source familiar with the investigation said Eapen and Ramos "would target different people—primarily Indian and Pakistani voters—and suggest that they take absentee ballots. They would give them reasons why they should be taking absentee ballots—not necessarily valid reasons. They would be present when they filled out the application for the absentee ballot and, in some instances, they would bring the absentee ballot back to the people to vote." The two men allegedly worked to improperly steer absentee ballots in support of Alderman Bernard Stone (D-50th). The Chicago Sun-Times has more on the story here.

12.18.07
A federal appellate court has ordered former East St. Louis Democratic Central Committee chairman Charlie Powell to be resentenced for vote fraud, saying his 21-month sentence is not long enough. Powell was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy to pay voters either $5 or $10 apiece to vote for a slate of Democratic candidates in the 2004 election. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Powell's sentence and remanded the matter back to the U.S. District Court. The appellate court also affirmed the vote fraud and conspiracy convictions of Powell, former precinct committeemen Jesse Lewis and Sheila Thomas, and former city director of regulatory affairs, Kelvin Ellis, all of East St. Louis. ("Federal appellate court: Powell must be resentenced on voter fraud," The Belleville News Democrat, 12/18/07)

09.07.07
According to the Chicago Tribune and KWQC-TV6 News, authorities announced today that an officer of Teamsters Local 743 in Chicago was indicted along with three former union employees for attempting to fix elections in 2004. Prosecutors allege that the acting president and three former representatives of one of the largest Teamsters locals in the country conspired to rig closely contested union elections to ensure an incumbent slate of officers won. According to the charges filed, the four diverted ballot packages to friends, relatives, and confidants instead of to union members, and the ballots were cast to ensure the re-election of the Unity Slate candidates. The four individuals could face up to five years in prison if convicted. For more on the story from KWQC-TV6 News, click here. ("Brief: Teamsters indicted in union vote fraud case", Chicago Tribune, 11/7/07)

Indiana
09.24.08
The last defendant in an East Chicago vote fraud investigation has been found guilty. Terrance Lay was convicted of collecting another voter’s absentee ballot during the East Chicago 2003 mayoral election, a race so riddled with fraud that the state supreme court ordered a do-over. Among the 46 individuals convicted were two city councilmen, five police officers, two fire department employees, 17 more public employees, and three precinct committeemen. WIBC 93.1 Indianapolis news has more on the story here.

4.29.08
The Howard County Election Board will reject more than 500 absentee ballot applications because they were filled out by officials with the United Auto Workers Union. State law prohibits anyone from giving out a pre-filled in absentee ballot application. According to County Clerk Mona Myers, parts of the applications were filled out in advance, including designations for which party ballot was being requested in the May 6 primary election, the type of ballot, and the reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Myers also said that all of the applications received were for Democratic Party ballots. "All the applications for an absentee ballot that were pre-filled out will be rejected," she said. "There was an attempt to change the application, but can still see where an "x" was typed." The Kokomo Tribune has more on the story here.

4.28.08
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 to uphold Indiana's law requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID before casting a ballot. The law "is amply justified by the valid interest in protecting 'the integrity and reliability of the electoral process,'" Justice John Paul Stevens said in the lead opinion that was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Anthony Kennedy. Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia, and Clarence Thomas also agreed with the outcome, but wrote separately. And, Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and David Souter dissented. The Indiana law directs the state to provide identification cards free of charge and allows a voter who lacks proper photo ID to cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted if the voter can produce proper identification or otherwise attest to his or her identification within 10 days at the county courthouse. The Washington Post and the Associated Press have more on the story here and here. The text of the opinion can be found here.

4.14.08
The Indiana Attorney General reported Monday that two public safety officials have pleaded guilty to crimes related to the 2003 East Chicago Democratic primary election. East Chicago firefighter Demetreos Hasapis, 44, pleaded guilty in Lake Criminal Court to unauthorized entry at the polls and was sentenced to a suspended 60-day sentence at the Lake County Jail, with 60 days of probation. A plea agreement reduced his felony charge of voting in another precinct to a misdemeanor. East Chicago police Officer Ronald DeCastro, 38, pleaded guilty to failure to cast or return a ballot in an authorized manner. DeCastro was sentenced to a suspended 60-day sentence in the Lake County Jail and 60 days of probation. Both men were charged following a Joint Vote Fraud Task Force investigation into the primary election. To date, the task force has charged 53 people, according to Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter's office. Of 52 concluded cases, 45 have ended with convictions, four were dismissed, one person died and two people have been found not guilty at trial. The Northwest Indiana Times has the story here.

4.01.08
Attorney General Steve Carter has announced that his office is joining an investigation into alleged absentee vote fraud in last year's Jeffersonville Democrat mayoral primary. The Attorney General said in a press release that he was asked to join the investigation by Ron Simpson, the Harrison County special prosecutor assigned to investigate the allegations. The allegations of absentee vote fraud in the primary election were raised late last year by former Jeffersonville Mayor Rob Waiz, who lost by 261 votes to current Mayor Tom Galligan. Waiz's complaint alleges that various laws governing absentee ballots were violated in the primary. In his press release the attorney general commented "[a]n instance of vote fraud cancels out one person's legitimate vote … We are dedicating resources to this effort knowing how important this issue is for the entire state. A joint investigation can provide a level of confidence in the process and help restore integrity to the electoral and governmental process." The Louisville Courier-Journal has more on the story, and the press release from Attorney General Steve Carter is available here.

2.11.08
A Lake County criminal court placed suspended police officer Ponciano Herrera of East Chicago on 90 days probation for vote fraud. Herrera, 42, pled guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of acquiring a phony ballot in the 2003 East Chicago Democratic primary election. Herrera, who had been suspended since being charged two years ago, entered a guilty plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors and the Attorney General's office to dismiss felony charges, making it possible for him to return to work. Herrera still faces a disciplinary hearing before the County Police Merit Board to determine if he will resume his duties as a police officer. The results of the 2003 East Chicago primary were overturned because of widespread corruption. The Northwest Indiana Times has more on the story.

12.13.07
Ninety percent of the voter fraud cases that came out of East Chicago in 2003 have been successfully prosecuted, Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter said Wednesday. So far, 38 people of the 42 charged have been convicted; of the other cases, three were dismissed, one ended in acquittal, and the other person died. "We've had a major impact on illegal voting; the old games haven't been going on (in Lake County) and absentee ballots were down," Carter said. "People have been saying to us, 'You've made a difference,'" added Lake County Prosecutor Bernie Carter. The Northwest Indiana Times has more on the story. See also ("Vote fraud fight hailed", The Gary Post-Tribune, 12/13/07)

11.08.07
Two more people charged with vote fraud by the Lake County Joint Vote Fraud Task Force have pleaded guilty and another person has been sentenced announced Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter. There are now 37 convictions against 53 defendants for vote fraud. Brian Berkman, a former Schererville Town Court Bailiff, pled guilty to Voting in Other Precinct, and has been sentenced to one year in the Lake County jail, to be served on probation.  Natividad Hernandez, pled guilty to Unauthorized Entry at the Polls, and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12.  Sentencing has also occurred for Ashley Dunlap who pled guilty to Aiding Fraudulent Application of a Ballot in August; he has been sentenced to one year probation.  The All American Patriot has more on the story.

09.25.07
The Northwest Indiana Times reports that State Attorney General Steve Carter has filed a motion to intervene in the civil case of two East Chicago police officers charged with vote fraud. On July 31, 2006, Attorney General Carter and Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter charged Ronald DeCastro with four counts of vote fraud and Randy Morris with one count of vote fraud. Attorney General Carter reportedly filed the motion to intervene in the civil case because he believes the two men sought court orders entitling them to vote by provisional ballot in the May 8, 2007, primary election in an attempt to circumvent the criminal proceedings that had been filed against them by the Lake County Joint Voter Fraud Task Force in 2006. The Northwest Indiana Times has more on the story.

09.21.07
Attorney General Steve Carter announced Thursday that two more people charged with vote fraud by the Lake County Joint Vote Fraud Task Force have pleaded guilty. Alicia Dunbar and Ivan Dunbar, both of East Chicago, have pleaded guilty to voting in another precinct. Both received a one-year probation. They were charged in March 2006 for illegal voting activity. Sentencing previously occurred for two other defendants on similar charges: Ricardo Alamillo was sentenced to a one and a half year suspended prison sentence and one and a half years of probation; and Mark Orosco was sentenced to a one-year suspended prison sentence and one year of probation. Orosco was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. The Northwest Indiana Times has more on the story.

08.24.07
Two more guilty pleas in the 2003 East Chicago primary election bring the total number of voting fraud convictions to 32 since the maligned polling took place, prosecutors announced today. Ashley Dunlap, of East Chicago, has pleaded guilty to one count of aiding the fraudulent application of a ballot, a Class D felony. Raymond Carillo, of Hammond, also has pleaded guilty to one count of voting in a precinct in which he did not reside, a Class D felony. The Northwest Indiana Times has more on the story.

08.20.07
The Northwest Indiana Times reports that a former East Chicago councilman, Levones Tolbert, pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor count of making unauthorized poll entries and was sentenced to 30 days probation. Tolbert was the highest-ranking official charged after a Joint Vote Fraud Task Force of Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter and County Prosecutor Bernard Carter investigated the discredited May 2003 Democratic mayoral primary. In that election, former East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick's campaign manufactured a razor-thin victory with tainted absentee ballots. The Northwest Indiana Times has the rest of the story.

06.16.07
The (Jeffersonville) News and Tribune reports that the state and local investigations continue concerning Clark County's absentee ballots from 2003.  The county prosecutor was recently given documents containing the name of a suspect, list of witnesses, and sworn statements taken by a court reporter. There is a 5-year statute of limitations on election fraud, meaning that the prosecutor's office would have to file charges by 2008 if there is a case to be made.("Still no word on Clarksville absentee ballots", The News and Tribune, 06/16/07)

12.06.06
Robert "Bosko" Grkinich, a Democrat precinct committeeman from Schererville, has been charged with 20 felony counts of voter fraud after allegedly illegally influencing non-English speaking voters to cast an absentee ballot for his political ally.  The case against Grkinich is the first to go to trial of 52 people charged as a result of a nearly 3-year investigation by the Joint Vote Fraud Task Force of Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter and Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter.  The task force looked into the discredited May 2003 Democratic primary in which the East Chicago mayoral results and Schererville town judge results were overturned.  The (Munster) Times has the rest of the story.

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky 01.24.08
The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the suspension of former county attorney Donald "Champ" Maze on Thursday. The court's ruling upholds an automatic suspension of Maze imposed by the Kentucky Bar Association after Maze pleaded guilty to vote buying and perjury in connection with a May 2006 primary corruption scheme. Maze was sentenced to 21 months in prison and is scheduled to be released from Ashland Federal Correctional Institute in 2009. Six others have pleaded guilty in connection with the case. ("Supreme Court affirms the suspension of former county attorney", The Lexington Herald Leader (AP), 1/24/08)

01.15.08
Calvin "Randy" Armitage was sentenced to two years probation, including six months of weekend incarceration, for his role in a Bath County vote-buying scheme. Armitage agreed that he should have done more to stop vote-buying in his county, but told U.S. District Judge Joseph Hood that the practice of vote-buying was considered the norm in Bath County. Armitage, a former Bath County sheriff, was the third official charged in connection to the vote-buying operation. Former County Attorney Donald "Champ" Maze pleaded guilty to charges related to vote-buying last February, and former Judge-Executive Walter Shrout was convicted in March by a jury; both also resigned from office after being charged in the investigation. ("Former Bath Seheriff to Spend his Weekends in Jail", Lexington Herald Leader, 1/1508)

01.08.08
Charles Hart of Salt Lick has been sentenced to 33 months in jail for his role in a vote-buying operation during the May 2006 primary. Federal Judge Joseph Hood found Hart guilty of obstruction of justice, vote buying and making false statements to federal agents. WAVE TV Channel 3 (Louisville) has more on the more on the story.

10.15.07
William Mike Butcher, 50, and Norman Crouch, 41, are two of 13 people charged in connection with irregularities in the May 2006 Democratic primary.  Butcher and Crouch pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to buy votes.  Both have testified that they paid Bath County residents $40 to $100 to vote for certain Bath County politicians.  Three Bath County elected officials have pleaded guilty or have been convicted in connection with the vote-buying case.  U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Hood sentenced Butcher to three years probation and to serve weekends in a county jail in November and December.  Crouch also received three years probation and one month of weekend incarceration beginning in November. ("2 sentenced in eastern Kentucky vote buying in '06 primary", The Lexington Herald-Leader, 10/16/07)

10.03.07
On Tuesday, Bath County Sheriff Calvin "Randy" Armitage pleaded guilty to one count of perjury in U.S. District Court in Lexington. Armitage is the 13th person and third public official to be indicted in a federal investigation into irregularities in the May 2006 Democratic primary in Bath County. As a condition of Armitage's guilty plea, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Hood required him to resign as Sheriff by 5 p.m. Tuesday. Armitage, who was set to go to trial Tuesday morning on vote-buying and perjury charges, admitted that he lied to a federal grand jury in September 2006 when he testified that he never gave anyone money to buy votes for him. He will be sentenced on January 14, and could face five years in prison. ("Bath sheriff pleads guilty to perjury, agrees to resign," The Lexington Herald-Leader, 10/03/07)

09.25.07
Three people charged in connection with widespread vote fraud during the May 2006 Democratic primary in Bath County were sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Lexington.  In June, Steven and Belinda Crouch and Anthony "Buck" White each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to buy votes, using money supplied by primary candidate, Walter Shrout or Bath County contractor Roosevelt "Sonny" Swartz.  The three admitted that they paid some of the county's poorest residents to vote for Shrout, who later won the election.  In three separate hearings, U.S. District Judge Joseph Hood sentenced Steven Crouch, 37, to five months in prison and five months of home incarceration.  Belinda Crouch, 30, received three years' probation, but must spend five weekends in the Montgomery County jail.  And, White, 54, was sentenced to three years' probation.  More than a dozen people have been charged in the case, including Bath County Sheriff Randy Armitage who will go to trial October 2.  ("Three sentenced in Bath vote fraud", The Lexington Herald-Leader, 9/25/07)

08.07.07
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Roosevelt "Sonny" Swartz was sentenced to two years' probation, a $20,000 fine, and 250 hours of community service yesterday in federal court in Lexington. Swartz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to buy votes during his May trial. Swartz is one of 13 Bath officials or residents who have been indicted on vote-buying-related charges stemming from the May 2006 primary. According to testimony, the going rate to sell votes that May was between $50 and $100.  ("Swartz sentenced for vote-buying in Bath," The Lexington Herald-Leader, 08/07/07)

07.12.07
WTVQ News channel 36 reports nine federal search warrants and hundreds upon hundreds of pages of testimony from the FBI as to why they believe there was a "coordinated effort by several Knott County officials to place publicly funded blacktop, gravel and bridges on private property as a means to buy votes." ("FBI affidavit reveals evidence of vote buying in Knott County," WTVQ News channel 36, Lexington, 07/12/07)

03.15.07
A Bath County man told a federal jury yesterday that Bath County Judge-Executive Walter Shrout and a wealthy Bath County contractor stopped by his home in early May and gave him an envelope stuffed with cash so he could buy votes.   Anthony "Buck" White, who has been charged with vote-buying, also admitted that he had helped buy votes when Shrout first successfully ran for the county's top office in 2002.  Shrout is one of 12 Bath County residents who have been charged in what federal prosecutors describe as flagrant vote-buying in the two weeks before the May 16 primary.  Shrout was charged in November with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and lying to a federal officer.  Shrout, who won the election, is the second Bath County elected official to go on trial in the case.  Roosevelt "Sonny" Swartz, the contractor White said came to his house with Shrout, has pleaded not guilty to one charge of vote-buying.  ("Bath witness tells of cash deliveries; Shrout alleged to have sought votes for cash," The Lexington Herald-Leader, 03/15/07)

04.24.07
State Sen. Johnny Ray Turner (D) was sentenced yesterday to three months' home detention and one year of probation for "non-willful" vote buying, closing out a long federal vote-fraud investigation in Eastern Kentucky.  The Democrat from Drift, who is the Senate's minority caucus chair, said he will not appeal the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell.  The government dropped a felony vote-fraud indictment against Turner in December in exchange for his guilty plea to a misdemeanor violation of allowing his campaign to make expenditures for the purpose of influencing voters.  ("Senator gets home detention; had pleaded guilty to letting election money be used for vote fraud," The Lexington Herald-Leader, 04/24/07)

Louisiana
02.09.07
Henrietta M. Williams, who was convicted for vote fraud during the 2004 Ferriday mayoral election, turned herself in to authorities on Friday. Williams, 56, was convicted on charges of filing a false public document after she filled out an absentee ballot under the name Maude Lee Williams. The Louisiana Supreme Court previously upheld her sentence of five years hard labor. The Natchez Democrat has more on the story.

12.15.07
The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the five years hard labor sentence given to a Ferriday woman for a voter fraud conviction in 2006. Henrietta Williams was convicted on charges of filing a false public document after she filled out an absentee ballot under the name Maude Lee Williams, who was not listed on the rolls of handicapped voters who qualified for voting assistance. The Natchez Democrat has more on the story.

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts
4.24.07
Two veteran Democratic political operatives were sentenced to six months' probation with 40 hours of community service after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors in a 3-year-old voter fraud case.  The two individuals had been charged with unlawful voting for casting ballots in the November 2004 municipal election outside of the voting district in which they lived at the time.  ("Democrat operatives receive probation; deal resolved case alleging voter fraud," The (Worcester) Telegram and Gazette, 04/24/07)

Michigan
10.28.08
Attorney General Mike Cox announced that his office filed felony forgery charges against Grand Rapids residents Robin Anderson and Patty Beth Wallace in 61st District Court in Grand Rapids as a result of multiple voter registration application forgeries. Anderson is charged with three counts of forgery resulting from an investigation initiated by the City of Grand Rapids Clerk. During that investigation, Anderson admitted to the Grand Rapids Police Department that he submitted three falsified voter registration applications in the name of his deceased brother, Andrew, who died in 2001. Wallace is charged with four counts of forgery resulting from an investigation initiated by the City of Grand Rapids Clerk. During that investigation, Wallace admitted to the Grand Rapids Police Department that she submitted four fraudulent applications, using other peoples' identities without ever contacting them. Anderson and Wallace said they filled out and turned in the applications to their employer, Community Voter’s Project (CVP), who then submitted the applications to the clerk. They also told police that they submitted the fraudulent applications to meet quotas mandated by CVP. Both face up to 14 years in prison for each count of forgery, as well as additional time for being habitual offenders. The Office of the Attorney General has more information here.

10.14.08
On Tuesday, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox charged a former ACORN worker with forgery in connection with voter registration applications the worker submitted in the city of Jackson. Antonio Johnson, 23, a convicted felon who is currently being held in Jackson County on a parole violation, is charged with six counts of forging a public document and faces up to 14 years on each count, Cox said in a news release.

Johnson was working for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now between May and June of this year when he filled out, signed and submitted six voter registration applications, using two Jackson residents' names, without their knowledge, Cox said. The Detroit News has more on the story here.

05.11.07
Edward Pinkney, a Benton Harbor activist, was sentenced to a year in jail and given five years' probation. The sentencing follows a March 21 conviction in which Pinkney, 58, was found guilty on three counts of improper possession of absentee ballots and one count each of influencing voters while voting absentee and influencing voters with money. ("Activist gets year in jail for 2005 election fraud," Associated Press, 05/11/07)

Minnesota

Mississippi
05.08.08
Testimony is underway in Cloyd Garth's case against Wilchie Clay and the Aberdeen Democratic Executive Committee ("ADEC") over Ward 2 election results. Garth filed a petition for judicial review of the election contest last week after Clay was declared winner of the Ward 2 alderman election. In the April 22 runoff, Garth defeated Clay by one vote. An inquiry by the ADEC found that three voters had cast votes twice, both absentee and at the polls. "We believe with overwhelming evidence that Mr. Garth influenced those votes and that the three voters fraudulently cast absentee votes," Jim Waide, Clay's attorney, said Wednesday in Circuit Court. "These people voted twice and they were Garth voters. The Aberdeen Democratic Executive Committee did a thorough investigation into this matter." The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal has more on the story here.

03.08.08
A county supervisor and former superintendent are among 16 people indicted on voter fraud charges in Benton County. The felony charges stem from a vote-buying investigation into the Aug. 7 primary and the Aug. 27 runoff in Benton County. Accusations in the indictment range from the accused paying as much as $40 and a case of beer to as little as $10 per vote. Benton County Supervisor Tate King and former Benton County Schools Superintendent Ronnie Wilkerson are among those accused of trying to buy votes, according to indictments signed on Feb. 27. King was indicted on two counts of voter fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit voter fraud. The indictments accuse King of trying to pay absentee voters. Former school Superintendent Ronnie Wilkerson faces two counts of conspiracy to commit voter fraud for alleged vote buying. Attorney General Jim Hood said he believes vote-buying has been a problem in the area for years, impeding voters' right to fair elections. "It's kind of an accepted practice," he said. The Clarion Ledger has more on the story. The Mississippi Attorney General's office also has issued a press release detailing all 16 indictments.

02.16.08
Seven more witnesses took the stand Friday to testify in the court proceedings contesting the Woodville 2007 primary election. The victories of Reginald Jackson, sheriff; Mon Cre Allen, circuit clerk; and Richard Hollins, District 2 Supervisor, have been contested amidst allegations of vote fraud. One witness, Terrance Stanwood, testified that he was given $1 and a hamburger after voting. Another witness, Sherman Carter, testified under immunity that he was brought to the Woodville Court House by Board of Supervisors President Robert Morgan for the purpose of voting by absentee. Unable to read and write, Carter said that a "heavy-set woman" in Allen's office filled out the ballot for him. Carter further testified that he did not sign anything when he voted and that the ballot was not sealed in an envelope afterwards. The Natchez Democrat has more on the story.

02.15.08
Two sisters, Latosha and Latonia Goodrich, testified under immunity to being complicit in vote fraud during court proceedings contesting the August 2007 Woodville elections. Latosha Goodrich testified that they met with Connie Hollins, sister of District 2 Supervisor Richard Hollins, in a Texaco parking lot for the purpose of filling out absentee ballots. When Connie Hollins arrived at the gas station, she had three envelopes complete with blank ballots. Latosha further testified that, when Hollins handed out the ballots, she instructed the sisters who to vote for. "I was coached," Latosha testified. Latosha said she was specifically told to vote for Richard Hollins, Mon Cree Allen and Reginald Jackson. The votes that elected Allen, Jackson and Hollins have all been contested. Latosha testified that she filled out the ballot as she had been instructed, and Hollins notarized it on the trunk of the car. Latosha then proceeded to fill out an absentee ballot for her brother who was unable to meet at the gas station, and Hollins notarized that ballot as well. Latosha testified that she signed her brother's signature across the seal on the envelope without his knowledge. She went on to say that she did not think what she had done was wrong because she trusted Hollins, and Hollins assured her that everything was legitimate. "[Hollins] knows the law and she said it was OK," she said. Latonia, Latosha's sister, told almost the exact same story. Neither sister was registered to vote absentee nor resided in Woodville at the time. The Natchez Democrat has more on the story.

11.15.07
Circuit Court Judge Jim Pounds has ordered a special Democratic primary election in the race for Justice Court Judge Southern District.  The race between incumbent Ellis W. Darby and challenger Louise Linzy had been decided by less than 10 votes.  The ruling comes after a complaint was filed by Linzy, alleging that the Democratic Executive Committee failed to count legal absentee ballots before making the primary election results official, that she was denied an opportunity to examine ballots due to the confiscation, and that election officials failed to properly count the affidavit and machine ballots, which she claimed could have affected the outcome of the primary election.  "Obviously votes were illegally cast and counted in this election," Judge Pounds said.  Indeed, after seizing ballot boxes from the local Democratic Executive Committee, officials with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations found:

• a large number of absentee ballots were sent to two particular questionable addresses;
• at least three dead people had been allowed to vote;
• Tunica Nursing Home residents were shown to be registered in six different precincts, although they all lived at the same address;
• at least three convicted felons and one incarcerated individual were allowed to cast votes; and
• two votes were also cast by persons not registered as U.S. citizens.

The Tunica Times has more on the story

11.06.07
Arrests were made Monday night in connection with allegedly fraudulent ballots cast in Tunica County's August 7 primary election. As many as 100 of the nearly 400 absentee ballots that were cast, could be fraudulent according to a spokesperson for the Tunica County Sheriff's Department. Deputies have arrested two people they believe are behind the scam. WHBQ FOX13 Memphis has more on the story.

09.13.07
Benton County 's superintendent of education was one of two men arrested Wednesday in an ongoing Attorney General's investigation of voter fraud in the county. Superintendent Ronnie Wilkerson of Blue Mountain was arrested and taken to Tippah County Jail along with Henry Massey, 42. Each man was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit voter fraud, said Attorney General Jim Hood. Both men have posted bond, which was set at $20,000 each. Since early August, 16 individuals have been arrested in connection with alleged voter fraud in Benton County. Among them are a county supervisor and a candidate for sheriff. For more on this story from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal , and WREG-TV News Channel 3 , click here, and here. See also "Two arrests reported in Benton Co. voting fraud case", Associated Press, 10/12/07

08.31.07
Arrests continue to mount in an investigation into voter fraud in Benton County. On Thursday, state Attorney General Jim Hood announced the 14th arrest since the vote-buying investigation began several weeks before the August primary. Jerry Huck Childers, 47, of Hickory Flat was charged Wednesday with one count of conspiracy to commit voter fraud, one count of bribery, and one count of vote fraud. Others previously arrested include sheriff candidate Clint Moffett and Benton County District 1 Supervisor Tate King, who has denied any part in voter fraud. Some residents in Benton County are not surprised by the voter-fraud allegations. According to Vera Cox, who moved to the county in 1971, "[t]his has been going on a long time." Cox added, "[e]very four years they have this ... and it's because some intend on getting into office one way or another." ("Investigation into voter fraud in Benton County nets 14th arrest," The Jackson Clarion Ledger, 08/31/07)

08.25.07
A longtime Benton County supervisor was among four arrested Friday on felony voter fraud charges. The state Attorney General's office says 67-year-old Tate King was involved in a vote-buying conspiracy leading up to the August 7th Democratic primary. King also faces one count of felony bribery. At least 13 others face similar charges. All are scheduled to appear in justice court on September 24. For more on this story from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, and WLBT News Channel 3, click here, here. See also "Benton Co. supervisors arrested in voting fraud probe", Associated Press, 8/25/07

08.15.07
State and local investigators have targeted the Tunica County Circuit Clerk's Office in their probe of absentee ballot irregularities in last week's election. A review of the evidence by 3 On Your Side found that:

• four of the ballots were mailed in using the names of dead people;
• five of the ballots used the names of convicted felons, including one who has been in jail since May 2006
• two of the ballots used names of individuals who were not U.S. citizens; and
• ten ballots -- split among six precincts -- were actually submitted using the names of ten residents who resided in the same Tunica Nursing Home

Authorities confirmed that all of the bogus ballots were mailed to the same address:  P.O. Box 772 in Tunica.  They would not reveal the physical address linked to the post office box, but a source close to the investigation says someone inside the circuit clerk's office mailed each of the ballots to that box.  WREG News channel 3 Memphis has the rest of the story

08.14.07
ABC 24 Memphis reports that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation ("MBI") and the Tunica County Sheriff's Department are conducting an investigation to determine who is responsible for illegally mailing several fraudulent absentee ballots during the August 7, 2007, elections.  Officials say that approximately 30% of the 301 absentee ballots cast are fraudulent.  The investigation has revealed many of the ballots in question included the names of people who were deceased or no longer living in the county.  Investigators with the MBI Crime Lab tested the questionable ballots for fingerprints and other DNA at the Tunica County Justice Courthouse in hopes of matching their results to the person responsible for mailing those absentee ballots.  ("Allegations of voter fraud in Tunica, MS," ABC 24 Memphis, 08/14/07)

08.06.07
Two people were arrested Monday and charged with voter fraud - just one day before Tuesday's primary election. These arrests bring the number to nine arrested in a probe of vote selling. ("2 more arrested and charged with voter fraud in NE Miss.," The Jackson Clarion-Ledger, 08/06/07)

08.05.07
The Jackson Clarion-Ledger and the SunHerald both report that seven people have been arrested in the Benton County vote buying probe, including one Democratic candidate, Clint Moffett. The Attorney General continues to investigate. ("Candidate, 3 others charged in vote fraud," The Jackson Clarion-Ledger, 08/05/07; "4 charged with voter fraud," SunHerald, 08/05/07)

Missouri
01.06.09
A voter registration worker with the group ACORN has been indicted on two felony counts of voter registration fraud.  Deidra Humphrey, 44, of East St. Louis, is expected to appear in U.S. District Court in St. Louis this week after a grand jury indicted her on the charges Dec. 31, according to the U.S. attorney's office.  Humphrey is accused of submitting forged and false voter registration cards for the Nov. 4 general election — including forging cards for nursing home residents.  Humphrey worked for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and the Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition (ProVote) during the campaign season to register low-income and minority voters.  The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has more on the story here.

07.18.08
Joel L. Neal of St. Louis was sentenced to a month of home confinement and a $2,000 fine for casting an absentee ballot for his deceased mother in Missouri's presidential preference primary. Neal's attorney argued that he knew how his mother wanted to vote and was simply carrying out her wishes. Neal applied for her absentee ballot on January 2, saying his mother was too ill or disabled to vote at the polls. He later filled out and mailed in her ballot. Neal also voted in his own name. He pleaded guilty in April to two felonies: submitting false information on an absentee ballot and election fraud. The St. Louis Post Dispatch has more on the story here.

04.12.08
Joel Neal of St. Louis faces up to five years in prison after admitting that he used his dead mother's absentee ballot to vote in the February election. Neal pleaded guilty on Friday in federal court to election fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for June 30th. U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said Neal's mother died in October. But in January, Neal applied for an absentee ballot from the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners on his mother's behalf. According to Hanaway, Neal falsely claimed his mother was incapacitated, marked the ballot and cast a vote in the name of his deceased mother. The Columbia Tribune has the story here.

04.02.08
Eight employees of the Association of Community Reform Organizations Now (ACORN) have pleaded guilty to federal election fraud for submitting false registration cards for the 2006 election, authorities said Wednesday. Catherine Hanaway, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, said the employees submitted cards with false addresses and names, and forged signatures. The employees are Brian Bland, 23, Bobbie Jean Cheeks, 50, Cortez Cowan, 21, Golden Gibson, 21, Radonna Marie Smith, 24, Anthony Reliford, 21, Kenneth Williams, 21, and Tyaira Williams, 23, all from St. Louis. In March, Kenneth Williams was sentenced to 15 months in prison. The others are scheduled to be sentenced in June. Each faces as much as five years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. The Fort Mill Times has more on the story here. In 2007, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway issued a press release detailing the indictments.

02.09.08
Joel L. Neal of St. Louis has been indicted on federal election fraud charges for attempting to cast an absentee ballot in the name of his deceased mother. According to the indictment, Neal's mother died in October but her name remained on the roll of eligible voters. Neal requested an absentee ballot for his mother in January, claiming she was incapacitated. Upon receiving the absentee ballot, Neal marked a vote and returned the ballot before Tuesday's primary election. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has more on the story.

12.21.07
Eight people have been indicted for submitting fake voter registrations in St. Louis City and County. The eight worked as voter registration recruiters for the Association of Community Reform Organizations Now (ACORN) during the 2006 election cycle. Elections Director Scott Leiendecker cited ongoing problems with the group and estimated the elections board spent $20,000 investigating the fraud. Charged with election fraud are Brian Bland, 23, Bobbie Cheeks, 50, Cortez Cowan, 20, Golden Gibson, 21, Radonna Smith, 23, Anthony Reliford, 21, Kenneth Williams, 21, and Tyaira Williams, 22. All are from St. Louis. KSDK News Channel 5 has more on the story. ("Eight indicted for vote fraud in St. Louis", Fox News channel 2 St. Louis, 12/21/07)

11.08.07
A former campaign worker pled guilty Thursday to charges that he submitted fake signatures in a failed recall effort a few years ago.  Sebekhu Smith, 55, was sentenced to probation, and is no longer allowed to vote in St. Louis City.  He's one of three campaign workers who faced charges related to their work to recall Alderman Jeffrey Boyd.  That effort never even made it to a vote in Boyd's ward because election officials ruled supporters had not submitted enough valid signatures.  The Circuit Attorney's office said Smith, along with Charles Keller, 50, and Linda Rogers, 57, submitted pages of petitions with questionable entries in the effort in 2005 to remove Jeffrey Boyd as 22nd Ward alderman.  Authorities say there were duplicate names, signatures with similar handwriting and names of people not registered to vote or were dead.  KWMU News 90.7 St. Louis has more on the story.

09.05.07
A federal judge today sentenced the last of four defendants indicted for voter registration fraud on the eve of the 2006 elections. Kwaim A. Stenson was sentenced to four months and five days. He will report to a half-way house in Springfield next week. Other defendants in the case also received light sentences. For example, Brian Gardner and Dale D. Franklin received probation, while Carmen R. Davis was sentenced to 120 days in a halfway house. ("Voter fraud defendant sentenced", The Kansas City Star, 09/05/07)

5.18.07
Carmen R. Davis, 38, was charged in January with voter registration fraud and identity theft before the November 2006 elections.  Davis and two other former employees of ACORN have been charged with submitting false registrations in Kansas City during the 2006 election.  ("Former ACORN employee pleads guilty to voter registration fraud," The Kansas City Star, 05/18/07)

05.11.07
Three campaign workers have been charged with fraud for their role in the failed recall attempt of a city alderman.  The charges allege that, in an effort to remove 22nd Ward Alderman Jeffrey Boyd from office, the three submitted pages of petitions with questionable entries, including duplicate names, signatures with similar handwriting, and individuals who were not registered voters.  Several names on the petitions belonged to dead voters.  Petition circulators working with Ozier were paid at least $2 per signature.  ("Campaign workers charged with fraud," The St. Louis Post Dispatch, 05/11/07)

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey
11.07.07
Three unsuccessful candidates in the June Democratic primary election in New Jersey were charged this week with illegally helping disabled voters complete their absentee ballots. Lawrence James, 76, Carmella Burrell, 41, and Elaris Robinson, 74, all of Chesilhurst, were accused of assisting residents of the R & M Guest Home. James also is accused of illegally mailing absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots for the residents, the majority of whom suffer mental and medical disabilities. All three candidates were issued summonses on Monday, and they will appear in Superior Court in Camden at a later date, according to the prosecutor's office. The Philadelphia Inquirer Online has the rest of the story.

07.08.07
Evidence of a $10 voting payoff that allegedly took place in last month's Hudson County local election has been turned over the county, state, and federal authorities. The Hoboken Reporter has the rest of the story.

New Mexico
05.30.08
A grand jury has indicted suspended Sunland Park municipal judge Horacio Favela. Favela is facing six felony charges, including false voting, falsifying election documents, and falsely swearing in a municipal election. He stands accused of voting twice in the 2004 presidential election and fraudulently seeking the bench. The state Supreme Court has suspended Favela without pay pending the outcome of the case. KDBC Channel 4 News has more on the story here<.

02.29.08
A Sunland Park Municipal Judge candidate has been charged with vote fraud for allegedly voting twice in the 2004 election. Questions have also arisen as to whether Horacio Favela actually lives in New Mexico. According to a criminal complaint, the Doña Ana County Bureau of Elections opened an investigation when it received anonymous information indicating that Favela may live in El Paso. A search of voter records showed Favela allegedly voted in El Paso County in 2002 and 2004 and in Doña Ana County in 2000 and 2004. The complaint further alleges that Favela voted twice by absentee in 2004. Favela allegedly told investigators that he stays in El Paso on the weekends to visit his grandchildren and did recall voting twice in 2004. He faces one count of false voting, a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison. ("Judge candidate charged with voter fraud", Las Cruces Su- News, 2/29/08)

02.27.07
The state Attorney General's Office has secured indictments against two Rio Arriba County men implicated in an alleged vote-buying scheme in the city of Española's 2006 municipal elections.   The vote-buying allegations came to light in a Rio Grande Sun report published in February 2006.   The newspaper quoted unnamed Española public housing residents as saying political operatives working for mayoral hopeful Floyd Archuleta's slate were buying votes.  The Archuleta camp denied the charges. Archuleta and the other members of his slate all went on to lose in their respective races.  ("2 indicted in alleged vote-buying scheme, suspects facing fine, prison time," The Albuquerque Journal, 02/27/07)

New York
08.16.07
The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that the election fraud case involving City of Poughkeepsie Councilwoman Gwen Johnson will be heard on Friday before Judge Thomas J. Dolan at the Dutchess County Courthouse. Republican Common Council candidate David Brown alleges that Johnson (D-7th Ward) witnessed a person produce signatures for two residents on the Democratic petition that Johnson filed with county elections officials in order to get on the ballot. ( "City election case resumes Friday," The Poughkeepsie Journal, 08/16/07)

North Carolina

North Dakota

Northern Mariana Islands

Ohio
12.29.08
Kevin Duffy, 24, of Manchester, Conn., pleaded guilty on Monday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court to attempted false voter registration.  Duffy told the court that he was in Cincinnati on October 4 to visit his sister, a student at Xavier University.  He then went with a group to the University of Cincinnati where he registered to vote and then voted on the same day.  Duffy later contacted Hamilton County officials to tell them he illegally registered and voted in Ohio and to ask that his vote not be counted.  Duffy was immediately sentenced to one year of probation, a $1,000 fine, and 250 hours of community service.  He also agreed to cooperate with an ongoing investigation of alleged improper voting in the county.  The Cincinnati Enquirer has more on the story here.

11.20.08
The Lorain County Board of Elections on Wednesday referred three cases of suspected voter fraud to County Prosecutor Dennis Will. A man who is not a U.S. citizen apparently registered and voted in Lorain, according to Board of Elections Director Jose Candelario. A poll worker spotted the man and reported him to election officials, but unfortunately, the man’s vote could not be retrieved and discarded, Candelario said. Two other cases referred to the prosecutor’s office were people who voted twice. One voted in Lorain County and then voted provisionally in Cuyahoga County, and the other voted in Cuyahoga County and then voted provisionally in Lorain County, Candelario said. In both cases, the duplicate ballots were tossed. The Chronicle-Telegram has more on the story here.

11.19.08
An East Side (Columbus) man is accused of filing false voter registrations and requests for absentee ballots for himself and seven others from the same address, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said today.  Antonio Alvande, 36, was indicted yesterday on 24 counts charging him with 14 counts of false registration and 10 counts of absentee-ballot fraud.  In a briefing this morning, O'Brien said the Franklin County Board of Elections "red-flagged" multiple forms before the Nov. 4 election because they were from the same E. Broad Street address. That address is actually a retail strip mall that includes a box-shipping store where Alvande had rented a post-office box.  A handwriting analyst confirmed that all were written and signed by Alvande.  The Columbus Dispatch has more on the story here.

07.16.08
Carolyn Kleinhert, a 21-year old student at Ohio University, pleaded guilty to felony election falsification charges in Athens County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday. Kleinhert voted an absentee ballot in her home county of Summit in the March primary. Then, on election day, investigators say she got a provisional ballot from Athens County to vote in the Democratic primary. Kleinhert told election officials in Athens County that she never received her absentee ballot from Summit County. WSAZ Channel 3 has more on the story here.

05.09.07
A grand jury on Tuesday indicted a suburban Columbus man on four counts related to voter fraud in the November 2006 election.  Claudel Gilbert of Reynoldsburg cast votes in both Licking County, where he lived, and in adjacent Franklin County, according to a Franklin County Board of Elections news release.  He also is charged with illegally registering to vote in Franklin County, providing false information to Franklin County, and voting in that county when he was ineligible to do so.  ("Man voted in 2 counties in 1 election," Columbus Dispatch, 05/09/07; "Man accused of voting twice," Associated Press, 05/08/07)

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania
11.25.08
A 34-year-old Chester man arrested last month for alleged voter-registration fraud admitted his guilt yesterday in Delaware County Court.  Jemar Barksdale, an ex-employee of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), was accused of turning in voter-registration cards for 18 already-registered voters, altering information, and forging signatures.  He entered a negotiated guilty plea to charges of forgery, identity theft, and tampering with public records, said Deputy District Attorney Greg Hurchalla.  The Philadelphia Inquirer has more on the story here.

10.21.08
On Tuesday, Delaware County officials announced the arrest of a 34-year-old Chester man for election-related offenses. Delaware County District Attorney G. Michael Green said Jemar Barksdale, an ex-employee of ACORN, turned in voter registration cards for 18 already-registered voters, altering information and forging signatures. Green said election officials contacted his office, which began an investigation in July and concluded that Barksdale also submitted 22 forms for fictitious people. Barksdale's charges include theft by deception, forgery, and unsworn falsification to authorities. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more on the story here.

08.05.08
Former State Representative Linda Bebko-Jones and her former chief of staff Mary B. Fiolek have both been sentenced to 12 months’ probation and assessed fines of $1,500 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of forging and submitting false signatures and criminal conspiracy. A grand jury heard evidence that people whose names appeared on petitions denied signing them and that among the signatories was a deceased person. Additionally, prosecutors said a witness informed them that names were drawn from the Erie phone book and Bebko-Jones’ personal address book. The Philadelphia Enquirer has more on the story here.

07.24.08
Luis R. Torres-Serrano has been charged with 19 counts of perjury, making false statements, forgery and identity theft. According to authorities, Torres-Serrano submitted more than 100 fraudulent registrations while serving as a temporary worker for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). "We're actively looking for Torres-Serrano," said John Goshert, chief of the Dauphin County detective bureau on Wednesday. "We're offering up to $2,000 for information on his whereabouts." The Patriot News has more on the story here.

02.28.08
Former Democratic state representative Linda Bebko-Jones and her chief of staff Mary B. Fiolek were charged Thursday with forgery, tampering with public records, false swearing, false nominating signatures, fraudulent filing and multiple conspiracy counts for submitting dozens of fraudulent nominating-petition signatures to get the legislator on the ballot two years ago. An eyewitness told the grand jury that the two combed the Erie phone book and Bebko-Jones' personal address book to generate fake signatures the day before the filing deadline. An investigator further told the grand jury that people on one of her petitions denied having signed it and one signatory had been dead for six years. And, Bebko-Jones' son Bryan Jones - testifying under a grant of immunity - said he gave Fiolek permission to forge his name on some of the petitions as the person who circulated them. An arraignment in Harrisburg is scheduled for next week. Bebko-Jones announced she would not seek re-election in March 2006, one day before she was scheduled to appear at a court hearing on a petition challenge. The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader and the Erie Times News have more on the story here and here. The Pennsylvania Attorney General has also issued a press release.

06.07.07
WFMZ News channel 69Allentown reports that a Berks County woman was arrested for alleged voter fraud, including falsifying registrations while employed by ACORN.  Berks County detectives say Wendy Godfrey committed dozens of acts of voter fraud - including false registration and registering dead people. ("Berks County woman arrested for alleged voter fraud," WFMZ, News Channel 69, 06/07/07)

Puerto Rico<

Rhode Island
05.14.07
John J. Madden III, a would-be 2006 mayoral candidate who had been charged with felony voter fraud, pleaded no contest to charges that 97 of the names on his nominating papers were forged. Madden agreed to a reduced charge of filing a false document, a misdemeanor offense.  The voter fraud case arose last summer, when Madden was trying to collect the 200 signatures necessary to challenge Mayor James E. Doyle in the Democratic primary.  ("Candidate admits fake signatures," The Providence Journal, 05/14/07)

South Carolina
04.17.08
Circuit Judge J. Michael Baxley ordered a new election to replace Atlantic Beach's Nov. 6 mayoral race. Mayor Irene Armstrong and challenger Retha Pierce filed petitions in circuit court appealing the outcome of the November election, in which Pierce defeated Armstrong by one vote. The appeals were filed nearly two weeks after the Atlantic Beach election commission voted to hold another election after four votes were disputed. Their appeal arguments were heard on March 18 at the Horry County Courthouse. Governor Mark Sanford suspended Armstrong from office last month after a Horry County grand jury indicted her on three felony counts of bribery at elections and two misdemeanor counts of misconduct in office. It is not clear whether Armstrong's legal problems could prevent her from being a mayoral candidate, a county elections official said Wednesday. "[T]these charges have so undermined the public confidence in the previous election process and the present candidates that this court invokes its equitable powers to insure the integrity and sanctity of the electoral process," the order from the judge reads. The Myrtle Beach Sun News has more on the story here.

03.24.08
Atlantic Beach Mayor Irene Armstrong and town manager Marcia Conner turned themselves in to authorities Monday. Armstrong came under fire back in November, when she was accused of buying votes in an effort to beat challenger Retha Pierce. Both Armstrong and Conner have been suspended, Conner by the town council and Mayor Armstrong by the governor. Last Thursday, a grand jury indicted Mayor Armstrong for buying three votes from two different residents - she still lost the election by one vote. Investigators said Armstrong paid $30 for three votes: two for herself; and one for her brother, town councilman, Jake Evans. Armstrong faces three counts of felony bribery as well as charges that she illegally transferred town money between accounts. Conner faces two charges of misconduct in office after investigators said she illegally transferred money between town accounts as well as a charge of failing to meet the employer's obligation to the police retirement fund. If convicted, Armstrong faces up to 35 years in prison; Conner, if convicted, faces up to 30 years. Both women were released after each paid a $15,000 bond. WBTW News 13 has more on the story here and here.

03.01.08
A jury deliberated 4 ½ hours Friday before finding suspended Eastover Mayor Chris Campbell guilty of vote fraud, forgery and misconduct in office. Judge Michael Nettles then sentenced Campbell to 18 months in prison for each of the three crimes, to be served concurrently, and 300 hours of community service. According to Assistant Attorney General Susan Porter, Campbell cast 16 ballots illegally in Eastover's April 2006 election, approaching voters addled or infirm with absentee ballots that he then marked for his preferred council candidates. On the initial tally in the April 2006 election, Geraldene Robinson had won one of two available town council seats. The results changed, however, after the tabulation of absentee votes two days later, when Robinson fell eight votes shy and Campbell's "picks" Walter Jones and Odell Weston were seated on the council. The State has more on the story here. ("Eastover Mayor sentenced to 18 months for voter fraud" The Charlotte Observer, 3/1/08)

02.18.08
Eastover's mayor and police chief are scheduled to go on trial together Tuesday, charged in connection with an election fraud case. The two - suspended mayor Chris Campbell, 41, and Chief Tim Ford, 35 - are charged with conspiring to intimidate witnesses after absentee ballots changed the results of a hotly contested town council race. The controversy centers around 62 absentee ballots cast in Eastover's April 2006 town council election, which featured six candidates competing for two seats. Campbell faces three felony charges of illegal conduct at elections, intimidation of a witness and conspiracy, as well as three misdemeanor counts of forgery, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. If convicted of all six charges, Campbell could be sentenced to 43 years in prison and fined at least $11,000. Ford, meanwhile, faces two felony counts of conspiracy and intimidation of a witness, and two misdemeanor counts of obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. ("Midlands election trial to begin", The State", 2/18/08).

06.14.07
Eastover Police Chief Timothy Ford was indicted Tuesday by the state grand jury on election fraud charges.  Ford is charged with conspiracy, fraudulent registration or voting, intimidation of a witness, common law obstruction of justice, and common law misconduct in office.  He is the second individual indicted in an investigation into the April 2006 election of two Town Council members.  According to the indictment, Ford "fraudulently represented that he was a resident of Eastover, South Carolina, allowing him to vote in the April 11, 2006, Eastover Town Council Election . . . [and] threatened and/or used force" to intimidate a witness or potential witness in an ongoing criminal investigation."  The other individual, Eastover Mayor Chris Campbell, is accused of using absentee ballots to change the outcome of the April 2006 election.   ("Town's police chief indicted," The State, 06/13/07; "Eastover police chief given $25,000 bond," WIS News channel 10, 06/18/07)

South Dakota

Tennessee
04.24.08
Vancey Voorhies, a former Davidson County poll official accused of voting illegally, struck a deal with District Attorney General Torry Johnson's office that will allow her to keep her voting rights. Voorhies was indicted on charges of voting twice in the Metro general election last August. She worked at the Stratford High School polling place. Voorhies was accused of voting under her own name during early voting, then voting again under someone else's name on the day of the general election. She was indicted on two felony counts and one misdemeanor count. The Tennessean has more on the story< here.

12.20.07
A Davidson County grand jury has indicted a former poll official on charges she voted illegally, Election Commission officials said. Vancey Voorhies, who worked at the Stratford High School voting precinct, faces two felony counts — illegal voting and making a false entry on an official election document — and one misdemeanor count of official misconduct, said Lionel Barrett, senior adviser to the administrator of elections. Voorhies is accused of voting under her own name during early voting last summer, then voting under someone else's name on August 2, when Metro Nashville held its general election for mayor, vice mayor and council seats. Voorhies is scheduled to appear in Davidson County Criminal Court on January 9.("Poll worker indicted in vote probe", Nashville Tennessean, 12/20/07)

Texas
07.18.08
The Bexar County District Attorney's office has uncovered cases of non-citizens voting after reviewing records at the request of the elections department. Undocumented immigrant status has been claimed by people both registering to vote and by people trying to get out of jury duty, District Attorney Susan Reed said. The two-year statute of limitations has expired on some of the vote fraud cases preventing prosecutions. "I'm asking to move it up on the radar and let's keep what we need to be able to come in and effectively prosecute in those situations," she said. San Antonio's KSAT News has more on the story here.

10.31.07
Four women in Duval County were charged Thursday with illegally handling mail-in ballot applications and ballots during the 2006 primary election. Lydia Molina, 70, Maria "Kena" Soriano, 71, Elva Lazo, 62, and Maria Trigo, 55, were indicted by a Brooks County grand jury. According to a news release from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's office, the four were taken into custody Thursday in Duval County. The defendants are accused of delivering mail-in ballot applications to Duval County residents who were ineligible to vote by mail and mailing the completed ballots to the registrar to be counted without identifying themselves on the carrier envelope as required by state law. ("Four indicted by Brooks County grand jury for voter fraud committed during 2006 primary", State News Service, 1/31/08)

10.10.07
Refugio County Precinct 4 commissioner Raymond Villarreal pleaded guilty to felony election fraud charges on Tuesday, according to the Attorney General of Texas' office. Villarreal pleaded guilty to a felony count of tampering with a governmental document and a misdemeanor count of wrongful possession of a ballot. District Judge W.W. Kilgore sentenced Villarreal to 90 days in county jail, 300 hours of community service, $2,500 in fines, and five years probation. Villarreal must also resign his position on the commissioners court. If Villarreal violates the terms of his probation, he could be sent to state prison for two years. According to investigators, Villarreal got county residents to sign mail-in ballot applications, but had those applications sent to his supporters. After the ballots were filled out indicating a vote for Villarreal, he had the original applicants sign them. For more on this story from The Dallas Morning News and the (Corpus Christi) Caller-Times, click here and here.

09.13.07
The (San Antonio) Express-News reports that charges are forthcoming in Bexar County against some of those who registered and voted despite being non-citizens. Officials involved in a joint federal-state probe say that some of those under investigation in the months-long Bexar County voter fraud case may be charged with both state and federal crimes. Federal investigators are scheduled to meet this week with local prosecutors to coordinate the cases and to determine who will face state felony charges for voting illegally and who will be deported for violating federal immigration law. Authorities said they anticipate charging some of the undocumented people alleged to have voted in Bexar County with felony violation of state law before they are turned over to immigration agents and likely deported. As the federal portion of the investigation begun in late May winds down, Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed will determine how she will proceed against the 41 people who allegedly voted - some repeatedly - despite being non-citizens. Reed's office will determine who will be charged with felony offenses after a meeting between Homeland Security Department investigators from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Adriana Biggs, Reed's white-collar crime division chief. The (San Antonio) Express-News has the rest of the story.

06.10.07
Dozens of non-U.S. citizens may have voted in Bexar County elections, a county elections official reported, prompting an investigation by federal and local authorities.   The names of 330 noncitizens on the voter rolls were reported by Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen.  Those named had received jury duty summonses but told the court they were not eligible to serve because they were not U.S. citizens.  The Bexar County district attorney's office is investigating whether as many as 41 of those noncitizens voted in more than a dozen local, state, and federal elections since 2001.  For more on this story from the Dallas Morning News and the Express-News, click here and here.

06.01.07
The Brownsville Herald reports that five individuals have been indicted in a Starr County election fraud scheme.   At least four Starr and Hidalgo county political operatives have been indicted for voter fraud in what the Attorney General's office says was a large-scale effort to submit mail-in ballots for imaginary people in 2006's March Democratic primary election.  The Brownsville Herald has the rest of the story.

Utah

Vermont

Virgin Islands

Virginia
10.15.08
A 22-year-old Norfolk woman who worked for a national voter registration organization was indicted Wednesday on three counts of felony election fraud. Cassandra McNair is accused of turning in voter registration applications to the Norfolk voter registrar’s office that contained false information. She worked for Community Voters Project, which has been accused of turning in fraudulent voter-registration applications in other states. Hampton Roads.com has more on the story here.

07.25.08
Three people are facing vote fraud charges for their role in submitting falsified registration forms in Hampton. The three were employed by the Community Voters Project, a program of The Fund for the Public Interest, as voter registration canvassers. According to Detective Jeffrey Minter of Hampton's property crimes unit, the organization required employees to meet a quota of at least 15 registrations per day in order to be paid. An investigation by the Hampton Registrar's Office found that between 60 and 80 names had been invented. Two employees, Brittany Wyatt and Jessica Lemon, each face one count of voter registration fraud. The third employee, Anthony House, faces four fraud counts. The Daily Press and WVEC TV report on the story here and here.

07.22.08
A grand jury has indicted four people on felony election fraud charges stemming from a town council election in the southwest town of St. Paul in Wise County. The indictments accuse the four of falsely claiming residence at a St. Paul apartment in an effort to influence the election. The Richmond Times Dispatch has more on the story here.

12.13.06
The Times-News and Roanoke Times both report that a former Gate City Mayor has been convicted of 13 counts of vote fraud after allegedly assisting ineligible individuals vote with absentee ballots and making false entries on the ballots.  For more on this story from The Times-News and Roanoke Times, click here and here.

Washington
07.08.08
Todd Stuart McGuire of Port Townsend is facing felony vote fraud charges following the completion of a 17-month investigation. The charges allege that McGuire, a prominent county Democrat, forged his wife's signature on an absentee ballot in the February 6, 2007 special election. An audit by the Jefferson County Prosecutor's Office determined that the signature on the outside of Rebekah McGuire's absentee ballot did not match the signature kept in the county's voter registration records. Ms. McGuire confirmed with county authorities that she had not voted in the 2007 special election. The Port Townsend Police Department investigated and found that McGuire cast two separate ballots in the election, one for himself and one for his wife. The probable cause statement from the police says that the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory examined the signature in question and found that the signature on Rebekah's ballot was in fact the handwriting of her husband. A hearing is scheduled for July 18 in Jefferson County Superior Court to determine what charges McGuire will face. Sound Politics has more on the story from the Peninsula Daily News here.

01.03.08
The former mayor of Roy (WA) Kim Eldridge pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of providing false information on a declaration of candidacy. Although Eldridge faced a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, she received no jail time and was ordered to pay $800 in fines and court costs. In November, she was removed from office, after a stone chip in her windshield led a Roy police officer to discover an unresolved felony theft conviction. The previous felony conviction meant Eldridge was unable to register to vote and thereby ineligible to hold office. The Associated Press hasmore on the story.

10.30.07
Three of seven defendants in the biggest voter-registration fraud scheme in Washington history have pleaded guilty and one has been sentenced, prosecutors said Monday.  The defendants were all temporary employees of ACORN when they allegedly filled out and submitted more than 1,800 fictitious voter-registration cards during a 2006 registration drive in King and Pierce counties.  Ryan Olson, 28, of Needles, Calif., was the first to be sentenced.  He pleaded guilty to two counts of providing false information on a voter-registration application, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail or in electronic home detention.  Tina Johnson, 24, of Tacoma, and Jayson Woods, 20, of Elkridge, >Md., also have pleaded guilty to eight counts each of registration fraud, and are awaiting sentencing.  Three of the remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to appear in court in November, and one has been charged with voter fraud and is wanted for failure to appear in court. The Seattle Times has more on the story.

10.26.07
A man charged last summer in a scheme to submit phony voter registration forms pleaded guilty Thursday in King County Superior Court, according to a spokesman for the Prosecutor's Office.  Ryan Olson of Needles, Calif., was sentenced to 30 days of detention on a felony charge of providing false information on voter forms, although his case will be reviewed to allow for possible electronic monitoring in his home, the spokesman said.  Olson was one of seven workers for a 2006 voter-registration drive conducted by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now ("ACORN") who were indicted in July on charges that they made up names of voters, forged signatures, and turned in bogus registrations to elections officials in Seattle.  Two other ACORN workers -- Tina Johnson of Tacoma and Jayson Woods of Elkridge, Md. -- have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.  The cases against the other defendants are pending.  The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has more on the story. 

09.06.07
The Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer both report that the woman who registered her dog to vote (to prove how easy it is to register illegally) has accepted a deal that will allow her to avoid a criminal conviction. Under the settlement approved by King County District Court Judge Mariane Spearman, Jane Balogh, 66, must perform 10 hours of community service, pay $240 in court costs, and not commit any other crimes in the next year. The misdemeanor charge will be dismissed after one year if she complies with those conditions. Balogh said she wanted to fight the criminal charge in court, but decided not to because of the possibility that she could have been convicted of a felony — and stripped, at least temporarily, of the right to vote. Prosecutors threatened to file a felony charge if the case went to trial. For more on the story from The Seattle Times click here. See also "No jail time for Federal Way woman who registered dog to vote," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 09/05/07.

07.26.07
Felony criminal charges have been filed against seven employees and supervisors of ACORN for the fraudulent registrations submitted in King County. The criminal charges are in addition to the settlement requiring ACORN to increase its training and pay fines. The settlement also states that ACORN may be held criminally responsible if the fraud occurs again. ("Officials examine possible voter fraud," The Seattle Times, 07/21/07)

07.26.07
The Associated Press reports King County has removed 1,762 from the voter rolls because of fraudulent registrations. Pierce and King County have been investigating suspicious and fraudulent registrations submitted by ACORN during the past election cycle. ( "King County removes 1,762 voter names it says were fraudulent," Associated Press, 7/26/07)

07.11.07
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that eight months after the first of three elections for which King County officials sent ballots to an Australian shepherd-terrier mix, he's finally off the voter rolls.  The dog's owner Jane K. Balogh, signed him up to vote in April of 2006 with a mail-in registration form.  The dog stayed on the voter rolls even after the November election when Balogh sent in the absentee form with VOID written across it and a print of a dog paw.  The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has the rest of the story.

06.24.07
Jane Balogh of Federal Way is headed to court next Tuesday and could face felony charges in a voter fraud case.  Balogh thinks Washington's voter registration requirements are too lax, making the voting system - even national security - vulnerable.   As a protest, she signed up her dog, Duncan, to vote, and was able to receive an absentee ballot for Duncan.  King Five News has the rest of the story.

06.23.07
The Seattle Times reports that prosecutors in King County are looking at possible criminal charges against ACORN in related to a voter-registration drive held in 2004 and 2006.  The Seattle Times has the rest of the story.

West Virginia
05.29.08
The West Virginia Supreme Court has greed to hear motions to reinstate a case against a former Lincoln County circuit clerk for allegedly stealing a 1996 election. Former Lincoln County circuit clerk Gregory Brent Stowers was sentenced to six months in federal prison in 2006 for his part in conducting illegal elections via vote buying in the county over a 12-year period. Stowers and other defendants in the case admitted to organizing voting slates by taking money from various candidates to be part of the slate and paying others to distribute the slate and buy votes. Stowers' conviction prompted his 1996 opponent Terry Hill to file a civil suit, contending he was defrauded of the salary and benefits of the office because Stowers bought votes and stole the election. Lincoln County Circuit Judge Jay Hoke declined to recuse himself from the case, which he ultimately dismissed on the grounds that it was based on failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Hill's attorney Robert Goldberg said evidence in the federal trial showed Judge Hoke was on Stowers' political slate. The Supreme Court voted 4-1 to hear the case on appeal. It will be set for docket in the court's fall session, which begins in September. The Charleston Gazette has more on the story.

Wisconsin
10.14.08
A third worker for Community Voters Project in Wisconsin has been charged with election fraud after prosecutors say he turned in 54 fake registrations, including one for a man who died 16 years ago. According to the criminal complaint, Frank Walton, 29, submitted the inaccurate voter forms to Milwaukee election officials with errors that also included fake driver's license numbers and Social Security numbers. Walton faces one count of falsely procuring voter registration and faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison and $10,000 in fines if he is convicted. News/Talk 1310 WIBA has more on the story here.

10.07.08
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that the Election Fraud Task Force has brought its second electoral fraud case. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office has filed felony charges against Adam Mucklin for Providing False Information to an Election Official and Intentional Violation of Election Duty. According to the criminal complaint, Mucklin served as a Special Registration Deputy for the City of Milwaukee and was paid by the Community Voters Project, a special interest group organized under the auspices of the Fund for the Public Interest. To serve as a Special Registration Deputy, one must be a qualified elector (i.e., eligible voter). Mucklin, however, is currently serving a felony offense, and his civil rights will not be restored until January 10, 2012. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has more on the story, including a copy of the criminal complaint, here.

09.29.08
A Milwaukee resident was charged Monday with election fraud, the first charge in an investigation into voter registration workers who submitted fake names to the city in what a complaint says amounted to a quota system. According to the complaint, Endalyn Adams, 21, is accused of submitting dozens of fake names and addresses as a registration worker paid by the Community Voters Project, one of two primary groups under scrutiny. Adams is one of 49 cases that City of Milwaukee election officials submitted to the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office for review. Nearly all of those submitted were workers for the Community Voters Project or ACORN. According to the complaint, Adams faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted of the felony charge. A warrant was to be issued Monday for her arrest, officials said. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more on the story here.

03.05.08
A jury deliberated for just 35 minutes on Wednesday before convicting Milwaukee Alderman Michael McGee's uncle of committing election fraud by paying voters five dollars each to cast ballots. Garrett L. Huff was convicted of three counts of conspiracy to commit election fraud. The charges stemmed from a recall campaign against McGee a year ago. City elections officials were notified that McGee's campaign might have been breaking the law by offering food and drink for voting. Milwaukee police officers and a state Department of Justice agent went undercover to Mother's Foods grocery store in March 2007 after reports that McGee's campaign was driving people to City Hall to cast absentee ballots and then paying them $5. According to a tape played in court, undercover officer Wardell Dodds asked Huff last March if store owner Adel "Jack" Kheirieh would pay him, "I can take care of that," Huff said. "We try to keep it hush. Don't ask [Kheirieh] about it, please don't ask. . . . Don't say [expletive] to McGee either. He don't go for certain [expletive]." Officer Dodds also testified that Huff then drove him to City Hall and back to the store, and gave him $5. State justice special agent Willie Brantley also testified he was paid $5 to vote. Huff is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7 and faces up to 10 years in prison. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more on the story here. (See also "Officers testify alderman's uncle paid for votes," Chippewa Herald, 3/5/08.)

02.26.08
Nearly three years after beginning a probe into voting flaws in Milwaukee, investigators have issued a report that says eliminating same-day registration and requiring voters to show photo IDs would minimize the problems found. The 67-page report blames inaccurate recordkeeping by city election officials and poll worker mistakes for flaws that allowed illegal and improper voting in 2004. The report cites a litany of specific problems, including a 4,600-vote discrepancy between the ballot count and the number of recorded voters and countless incidents of felons voting. The report also cites at least 16 cases where campaign workers from out of state voted while employed in-state by an outside group attempting to influence the election, saying those workers "had to ‘commit multiple criminal acts'" in the process of voting. Prosecutions stemming from the 2004 election were minimal, with the report noting that investigators wanted more charged, but the "poor quality of the records" made the cases difficult to pursue. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the rest of the story.

01.10.08
Israel Cordova, Jr of Milwaukee pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a felony charge of election fraud for voting while on probation for a previous felony. Cordova participated in the November 2006 election while still on probation for a 2005 battery case. Cordova entered into a plea bargain where a second count of voter registration fraud was dropped. He faces up to three and a half years in prison. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the rest of the story. See also ("Man pleads guilty to voter fraud", New Richmond News, 1/10/08)

10.09.07
Alderman Michael McGee will go on trial in December, according to a ruling by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Dennis P. Moroney.  McGee is accused of running a $5 per person vote buying operation in one of the two cases pending against him.  Judge Moroney ruled that McGee will have a single trial on all charges, but that two separate juries will rule on them.  Two other defendants in the vote buying case, Garrett Huff and Khadijah Anwar, will go to trial in March 2008 without McGee.  For more on the story from WTMJ 4 Milwaukee click here. See also "Two juries to hear joint testimony in McGee case", Fox News channel 6, Milwaukee, 10/09/07.

10.08.07
Sandderea D. Ramsey, whose case was the first of a series of Milwaukee County criminal prosecutions for vote fraud in last November's election, pleaded guildy Monday to casting a ballot even though she was a felo on supervision. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, and Ramsey faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison. As part of her plea deal, a second felony count of vote fraud - for providing false information to election officials - was dismissed. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online has the rest of the story.

09.12.07
Four Racine men were charged Tuesday with election fraud (illegal voting). According to the charges filed, all four are convicted felons who registered and then voted on November 2, 2006. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Racine city clerk Janice Johnson-Martin said the city makes an effort to make sure convicted felons know they can't vote until after they have served their time. Specifically, the city posts signs at every polling place informing felons that cannot vote if they have not had their rights restored. If convicted, each of the men would face up to a $10,000 fine and three and a half years in prison. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the rest of the story.

08.23.07
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Michael Zore was convicted of double voting in the 2006 general election. Zore told police that he had voted twice using the city hall polling stations of two different Milwaukee County suburbs in the space of six hours. The evidence against Zore included him signing up to vote using a false address in West Allis -- after he had already voted in Wauwatosa. Zore, however, told a jury Wednesday that there was a good reason he should not be convicted of felony counts of double voting and giving a poll worker false information: he forgot. Jurors needed just an hour of deliberation to reject this claim and find Zore guilty. Zore, 44, now could face a prison sentence of up to seven years and a fine of $20,000 when Milwaukee County Circuit Judge William W. Brash III sentences him on September 27. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the rest of the story.

06.15.07
The La Crosse Tribune reports that a federal appeals court ruled unanimously on Thursday to uphold a voter-fraud conviction against a Milwaukee woman who voted even though she was still a felon under state supervision.  Kimberly Prude and nine other felons were later charged with illegal voting.  Prude, on probation for a Waukesha County forgery conviction, voted in October 2004 along with others during a rally featuring the Rev. Al Sharpton.  She followed the crowd to City Hall in Milwaukee, registered to vote, and submitted an absentee ballot.  ("Appeals court upholds conviction against illegal voter," La Cross Tribune, 06/15/07)

Wyoming