Election Fraud Cases
William Chase, of Walker County, a convicted felon, was charged with forgery, illegal acts regarding election documents, unlawful acts regarding elector's vote, and duplicate voting after filling out another person's absentee ballot in the January 2021 runoff election. The ballot was mistakenly sent to a P.O. Box at the former address of the registered voter. The voter inquired with the Walker County Elections Office when she did not receive her ballot, but her husband received his ballot. Election officials discovered Chase had submitted the woman’s ballot by forging her signature; Chase’s fingerprints were on the fraudulent ballot. Chase had also already submitted his own ballot in addition to the fraudulent absentee ballot. Chase was convicted by a jury on all counts and sentenced to 25 years, with 15 years to be served in prison and the remaining 10 years to be served on probation. He was also ordered to pay a $50 public defender application fee and "pay a probation supervision fee of $32 per month to the Probation Office and shall pay all fines, costs, restitution, and surcharges at the rate of $132 per month beginning within thirty days of release from custody."
Source: https://herit.ag/3XfVtuo , https://herit.ag/3XoSXCh
Former Twiggs County Sheriff Doyle Stone and his son, Greg Stone, were investigated for mishandling absentee ballots in Greg Stone's 2008 primary campaign for sheriff. Absentee voters complained that Doyle Stone coerced them into voting for Greg Stone, and then took their ballots rather than allow them to be mailed in. Greg Stone lost the election by a wide margin. Both men agreed to pay $300 in civil fines.
Source: https://herit.ag/3x67uVS, https://herit.ag/3zH4Oj7, https://herit.ag/3yl80As
Carleton Vines and his accomplices ran an absentee ballot fraud operation designed to rig the 2006 election in which Vines won election as a state court judge. Vines's co-conspirators acted as "runners," illegally "assisting" voters in filling out their absentee ballots. In many cases, ballots were transported by the conspirators to Vines's law office before being subsequently mailed. The group signed a consent decree with the state board of election, acknowledging their actions and accepting a public reprimand. Vines was fined $15,000.
Source: https://herit.ag/3iQE74J, https://herit.ag/2TE5gzj, https://herit.ag/3l1ivoV
Tommy Raney, a 2007 candidate for the Jackson City Council, and his campaign worker, Debra Brown, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit absentee ballot fraud for mishandling more than 40 absentee ballots in the 2007 Jackson City Council race. Raney had won the election by 27 votes. Both were sentenced to two years' probation. Raney was fined $158,000, and Brown was fined $20,000.
Source: https://herit.ag/2Vdv31N, https://herit.ag/3742shY
James Bryant, Jr. admitted to improperly assisting voters in completing their absentee ballots in the 2005 Americus mayoral election. Bryant was a candidate in that election, and on at least six occasions, he helped voters fill out information on their ballot mailers without signing the requisite oath indicating he had provided the assistance. He was ordered by the State Election Board to pay a $600 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2WrcMyx
Jerry Metts was investigated for helping illegal aliens cast absentee ballots in Atkinson County during a 2004 county commission election. He was fined $80,000 by the State Election Board.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i5A05t
The Georgia State Election Board sanctioned Jackie Bailey, along with four others, in regard to her illegal possession of 107 absentee ballots in the June 1998 Democratic Primary Election for Coffee County Commissioner. She was fined $1,000. Secretary of State Cathy Cox indicated that the fines for possession of absentee ballots were equal to the most severe penalties ever ordered by the board for violations of the election code. The Board referred the case to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney Richard E. Currie as a potential criminal case.
Source: bit.ly/2hi9r0a
The Georgia State Election Board sanctioned Gloria Davis, along with four others, in regard to her illegal possession of 107 absentee ballots in the June 1998 Democratic Primary Election for Coffee County Commissioner. She was fined $1,000. Secretary of State Cathy Cox indicated that the fines for possession of absentee ballots were equal to the most severe penalties ever ordered by the board for violations of the election code. The Board referred the case to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney Richard E. Currie as a potential criminal case.
Source: bit.ly/2hi9r0a
The Georgia State Election Board sanctioned Doris Gaskins, along with four others, in regard to her illegal possession of 107 absentee ballots in the June 1998 Democratic Primary Election for Coffee County Commissioner. She was fined $1,000. Secretary of State Cathy Cox indicated that the fines for possession of absentee ballots were equal to the most severe penalties ever ordered by the board for violations of the election code. The Board referred the case to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney Richard E. Currie as a potential criminal case.
Source: bit.ly/2hi9r0a
The Georgia State Election Board sanctioned Rudene McNeair, along with four others, in regard to her illegal possession of 107 absentee ballots in the June 1998 Democratic Primary Election for Coffee County Commissioner. She was fined $1,000. Secretary of State Cathy Cox indicated that the fines for possession of absentee ballots were equal to the most severe penalties ever ordered by the board for violations of the election code. The Board referred the case to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney Richard E. Currie as a potential criminal case.
Source: bit.ly/2hi9r0a
The Georgia State Election Board sanctioned Betty Stewart, along with four others, in regard to her illegal possession of 107 absentee ballots in the June 1998 Democratic Primary Election for Coffee County Commissioner. She was fined $1,000. Secretary of State Cathy Cox indicated that the fines for possession of absentee ballots were equal to the most severe penalties ever ordered by the board for violations of the election code. The Board referred the case to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney Richard E. Currie as a potential criminal case.
Source: bit.ly/2hi9r0a