Election Fraud Cases

Brian Pritchard

Brian Pritchard, a First Vice Chair of the Republican state party, was sanctioned by the Georgia State Board of Elections for voting at least 9 times while ineligible from 2008 to 2010. Pritchard was convicted of felony check forgery in Pennsylvania in 1996 and was placed on probation for three years, which was extended for various reasons until 2011. In 2008, Pritchard registered to vote in Georgia, despite still being on probation for the felony charges. He voted a total of nine times in primary, general and runoff elections between 2008 and 2010. An administrative law judge found Pritchard had violated Georgia law by voting as a convicted felon who had not finished serving his sentence.  The State Election Board approved the judge’s findings and imposed $5,000 in civil penalties (a $500 penalty and $500 for each voting offense), $375.14 in investigative costs, and a public reprimand. He was subsequently removed from his position in the Republican party.

Source: herit.ag/3YdnBlL , herit.ag/3Y8U8JI , herit.ag/4bN9vdJ

William Chase

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

Georgia's 28th House District

The 2018 election for Georgia's 28th House district was overturned twice by Senior Superior Court Judge David Sweat because some out-of-district voters submitted ballots, some voters moved out of the district between the first and second runoff elections, and there was at least one instance of duplicate voting. Though individuals were not prosecuted, this northeastern Georgia district faced three elections in the same year between the same Republican candidates (no Democrats ran). In the end, the incumbent lost to challenger Chris Erwin.

Source: https://herit.ag/3vOk50B, https://herit.ag/3bdrgWS

Charlie Mack Wooten

Following an investigation by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, it was revealed that Charlie Mack Wooten and his fellow conspirators, "did in fact provide assistance to electors who were not physically disabled or illiterate." He and four other individuals were indicted by a grand jury in May 2016 for election fraud stemming from the November 2012 election. In lieu of going to trial, Wooten plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Source: https://herit.ag/3kYteR2, https://herit.ag/3x95tZ0

Evelyn Griffin

Following an investigation by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, it was revealed that Evelyn Griffin and her fellow conspirators, "did in fact provide assistance to electors who were not physically disabled or illiterate." She and four other individuals were indicted by a grand jury in May 2016 for election fraud stemming from the November 2012 election. In lieu of going to trial, Griffin plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Source: https://herit.ag/37184t9, https://herit.ag/3f1ZCyo

James Curtis Hicks

Following an investigation by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, it was revealed that James Curtis Hicks and his fellow conspirators, "did in fact provide assistance to electors who were not physically disabled or illiterate." He and four other individuals were indicted by a grand jury in May 2016 for election fraud stemming from the November 2012 election. In lieu of going to trial, Hicks plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x7ryHs, https://herit.ag/2WlR0fn

Mohammad Shafiq

Mohammad Shafiq had a disagreement with Madison County sheriff candidate Clayton Lowe, and thought he would get back at the man by helping his opponent win the 2012 election. Shafiq fraudulently submitted voter registrations cards and--in the face of accusations--coerced a couple, Bennie and Margaret Pierce, to sign affidavits intended to exonerate him. Upon investigation, his ruse was discovered, and he was charged with two counts of perjury, three counts of tampering with evidence, and two counts of voter identification fraud. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years' probation with a fine of $6,750.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x5RhzJ, https://herit.ag/2Wi1fRW

Edwin Morris, Alexia Williams, and Kim Ross

The Georgia State Election Board imposed penalties against Edwin Morris and Alexia Williams in 2011 for their roles in forging signatures to get David Osborne on the 2008 Chatham County Commission ballot. Morris received a reprimand and a 10-year suspension from campaign involvement. Williams was fined $300. In 2012, the Board ordered Kim Ross to pay a $300 fine for her involvement in the forging scheme.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rDnqOa, https://herit.ag/372H4tp

James Parker

James Parker was found guilty of an administrative violation of registering to vote under an address at which he did not live. He was given a cease-and-desist order issued by the Georgia State Election Board, as well as a public reprimand.

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

Doyle Stone and Greg Stone

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

Stephen Watson

Stephen Watson was found guilty of an administrative violation of registering to vote under an address at which he did not live. He was given a cease-and-desist order issued by the Georgia State Election Board, as well as a public reprimand.

Source: https://herit.ag/3y83B3Z

Carleton Vines, Albert Palmour, Dorothy Gilreath, Steve Chappelear, Sidney Johnson, Lois Reed, and Anthony Sparks

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

Michael Douglas, Jr. and Olin Gibson

Former Dodge County Sheriff Michael Douglas, Jr., and Deputy Sheriff Olin Gibson pleaded guilty to election fraud in connection with Douglas' first campaign for sheriff in 2004. Douglas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to buy votes and to voting more than once, and Gibson pleaded guilty to buying a vote for Douglas.

Source: https://herit.ag/3l6shWP

Tommy Raney and Debra Brown

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.

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