Election Fraud Cases

Refining Filters +

Refine by State

Refine by Disposition Year

Refine by Type of case

Refine by Type of fraud

StateWashingtonYear2010NameJanice WatersCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeDuplicate Voting, Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Janice Waters, of Marysville, was convicted of illegal registration in the wrong county, absentee ballot fraud, and illegal double voting in the 2008 general election. Waters submitted a ballot for her son, who was a convicted felon and ineligible to vote. Upon questioning, Waters told the County Sheriff's Office she did not submit her son's ballot and suspected her mail had been intercepted or misdirected. Forensic scientists analyzed Waters' signature with the signature on her son's absentee ballot and concluded she had submitted the form. Waters was sentenced to 20 days in jail; the sentence was later converted to 160 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i5AxnX, https://herit.ag/3iXAJVN

StateWashingtonYear2009NameSusan RisenhooverCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Susan Risenhoover pleaded guilty to forging the signature of her son (who had moved to Texas) on an absentee ballot and then submitting it in connection with the 2008 election. She was sentenced to 40 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f2SIJc

StateWashingtonYear2008NameRandell Lee ColeCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Randell Lee Cole was admitted into the Jefferson County "Friendship" Diversion Program following charges that Cole had illegally voted in the 2008 primary election. Cole, a felon, was ineligible to cast a ballot.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zJbptw

StateWashingtonYear2008NameTodd Stuart McGuireCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Todd Stuart McGuire, of Port Townsend, was ordered to participate in a diversion program that includes five years of supervision. McGuire cast a ballot in his wife's name in a 2007 special election. He agreed to an order that "facts sufficient for a guilty" finding existed in his case. McGuire was barred from voting during the five-year supervision period.

Source: https://herit.ag/3iXLCXL

StateWashingtonYear2007NameKendra Lynn ThillCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Kendra Lynn Thill, a former canvasser for ACORN, pleaded guilty to voter registration fraud committed in the 2006 election. She was given a 12-month deferred sentence.

Source: https://herit.ag/2ULc3I5, https://herit.ag/3x8BKPJ

StateWashingtonYear2007NameClifton Eugene MitchellCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

ACORN workers in Seattle committed what the Secretary of State labeled as the worst case of voter registration fraud in Washington's history. When ACORN's national office threatened to shut down the group's local office, Clifton Mitchell and his team began using fake names, addresses, birthdays, and social security numbers in order to meet their voter registration quotas. In a candid interview with CNN following his conviction, Clifton relayed how he and his fellow ACORN co-workers would take addresses from homeless shelters or use baby books and phone books to generate fake information. In total, the group submitted 1,762 fraudulent voter registration forms. Mitchell was convicted of false registrations and served nearly three months in jail. Four other ACORN workers on his team also received jail time. Additionally, prosecutors ordered ACORN to increase its oversight under threat of prosecution and fined the organization $25,000 to cover the cost of the investigation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x7VRxA, https://herit.ag/3zDNP12, https://herit.ag/3y3BCSZ

StateWashingtonYear2007NameRyan OlsonCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Ryan Olson pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court to two felony counts of providing false information on a voter-registration application. Court Commissioner Kenneth Comstock sentenced him to 30 days in jail or in electronic home detention.

Source: https://herit.ag/373q8TD

StateWashingtonYear2007NameTina Johnson and Jayson WoodsCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Tina Johnson and Jayson Woods pleaded guilty to eight counts each of registration fraud. Each were sentenced to 120 days of jail, or 15 days for each count.

Source: https://herit.ag/3BNfqib

StateWashingtonYear2006NameJane Kay BaloghCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFalse Registrations, Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Balogh was found guilty of making false or misleading statements to a public servant, as well as absentee ballot fraud and registration fraud. In 2006, Balogh registered her dog, Duncan, to vote under her address and telephone number and successfully completed and mailed an absentee ballot for him. Balogh claimed she was drawing attention to flaws in the absentee ballot system. She received a one-year deferred sentence, and was ordered to perform 10 hours of community service and pay court fees of $240.

Source: https://herit.ag/2UWDyyn, https://herit.ag/3BLKrmH

StateWashingtonYear2005NameDoris McFarlandCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Doris McFarland's husband passed away before he could vote in the 2004 election, and Mrs. McFarland decided to cast his absentee ballot. She later admitted to double voting in that year's election but avoided jail time. She was ordered to pay court fees and a $490 fine.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rEWfCp, https://herit.ag/3EjcJW5

StateWashingtonYear2005NameRobert Victor HolmgrenCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Robert Victor Holmgren cast a ballot for his recently-deceased wife in the 2004 general election. He pleaded guilty to voting twice in an election and was ordered to pay $490 in fines and court fees.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rDWBt7, https://herit.ag/3y9ytkE

StateWashingtonYear2004NameDustin Shane Collings (a.k.a. Dustin…Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeDuplicate Voting

Dustin S. Collings, identified as a homeless Seattle resident, was convicted of casting two ballots, both using the alias of Dustin Ocoilain, a name that was listed twice on the voter registration rolls.

Source: https://herit.ag/3Go5XAh

Key & Definitions

Types of Cases

Criminal Conviction

Any case that results in a defendant entering a plea of guilty or no contest, or being found guilty in court of election-related offenses.

Judicial Finding

A finding by a court of law that fraud occurred in an election, including judicial orders overturning election results or ordering a new election due to fraud.

Civil Penalty

Any civil case resulting in fines or other penalties imposed for a violation of election laws.

Official Finding

A finding by a government body that fraud occurred in an election, including orders overturning election results or ordering a new election due to fraud.

Diversion Program

Any criminal case in which a judge directs a defendant into a pre-trial diversion program, or stays or defers adjudication with the understanding that the conviction will be cleared upon completion of the program.

Types of Voter Fraud

Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Requesting absentee ballots and voting without the knowledge of the actual voter; or obtaining the absentee ballot from a voter and either filling it in directly and forging the voter’s signature or illegally telling the voter who to vote for.

Ineligible Voting

Illegal registration and voting by individuals who are not U.S. citizens, are convicted felons, or are otherwise not eligible to vote.

Impersonation Fraud At The Polls

Voting in the name of other legitimate voters and voters who have died, moved away, or lost their right to vote because they are felons, but remain registered.

Buying Votes

Paying voters to cast either an in-person or absentee ballot for a particular candidate.

Ballot Petition Fraud

Forging the signatures of registered voters on the ballot petitions that must be filed with election officials in some states for a candidate or issue to be listed on the official ballot

Duplicate Voting

Registering in multiple locations and voting in the same election in more than one jurisdiction or state.

False Registrations

Voting under fraudulent voter registrations that either use a phony name and a real or fake address or claim residence in a particular jurisdiction where the registered voter does not actually live and is not entitled to vote.

Altering The Vote Count

Changing the actual vote count either in a precinct or at the central location where votes are counted.

Illegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Forcing or intimidating voters—particularly the elderly, disabled, illiterate, and those for whom English is a second language—to vote for particular candidates while supposedly providing them with “assistance.”