Still don’t think voter fraud happens? An incident out of Ala. may have you thinking again.
The Daily Signal reported on a case in Dothan, Ala., over the 2013 election for City Commission.
Olivia Reynolds, 66, recently became the third person to be convicted of 24 felony counts of absentee ballot fraud. Reynolds was working to get incumbent Amos Newsome re-elected, who also happens to be her boyfriend. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding her guilty.
Reynolds played her part by fraudulently applying for and submitting absentee ballots for registered voters. She also ordered witnesses to vote for Newsome, and illegally filled out ballots for some voters.
Investigations arose after challenger Lamesa Danzey, who had lost by only 14 votes, identified at least 37 abentee ballots which appeared to be illegally cast. Even more suspect was how Newsome lost the in-person vote, by 100 votes, and yet won a whopping 96% of the absentee ballot vote.
What’s worse about the situation is that a similar situation happened in 2011 as well.
Until Newsome resigns, there’s little that the city commission can do. There can be a forced recall though if 3 percent of voters sign a petition.
If anything this case shows that voter fraud is serious, and it does have consequences. And this is just the case that has come to light. Who knows how many other incidents of voter fraud are occurring?
