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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
State AG's office revives probe into voter fraud allegations involving 2023 Springfield election
SPRINGFIELD — The state Attorney General's office has reportedly revived an investigation into whether the mayoral candidate of Justin Hurst paid for votes in 2023. City officials confirmed that a prosecutor and a Massachusetts state trooper visited City Hall May 28 and quizzed Elections Office staff and requested voter records related to the mayoral race that pitted Hurst against longtime incumbent Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. State investigators showed up at City Hall two days before Hurst pulled papers to run for City Council once again. Hurst said he believes his work in city government is not done. 'The issues that I campaigned on when I ran for mayor are more present now than ever before. Time and time again, we are failing to meet the moment. And we, the people, feel the pain,' Hurst said. Days before the November election in 2023, campaign workers for Hurst were captured on building video outside City Hall carting local voters back and forth to the polls. While Hurst was in the convoy of cars, the footage did not show him providing $10 bills for votes, unlike some of his workers. The voters also were promised a fish dinner once they presented their 'I voted early' stickers to Hurst people standing outside City Hall. About a half dozen city officials, as well as a police officer, said in sworn affidavits at the time that they witnessed the distribution of $10 bills. When the video footage emerged, Hurst claimed it was a last-minute 'smear campaign' from Sarno's camp and denied paying for votes. Around 130 voters registered to vote and cast their ballots early on the same day, according to City Solicitor Stephen J. Buoniconti. Many of those voters logged their addresses as the Worthington Street homeless shelter. The Republican at the time interviewed a man who confirmed he was paid $10 to vote for Hurst. The city solicitor at the time, retired judge John Payne, called for the Hampden District Attorney's Office to launch a criminal investigation. 'It is extremely troubling. This is a fraud upon the elections process,' Payne said in 2023. 'Before I became a judge, I was active in elections for 30 years, and I've never heard of anyone being paid for a vote. It is very serious,' he said at the time. A state law concerning 'voter bribery' provides penalties of up to a year in jail. A state elections official told The Republican in 2023 that there is no scenario under which it would be permissible to pay a voter to cast a ballot. Buoniconti on Tuesday confirmed that investigators came May 28 with specific questions regarding 'alleged improprieties' by Hurst's camp during that mayoral race. 'They're doing a deeper dive in the investigation but it appears to us there's been a staff change in the AG's office and they're going back to start the investigation all over,' he said, identifying the lead prosecutor in the case as Karen Bell. Bell was an assistant district attorney in Hampden County before leaving for the same role in Berkshire County in 2018, and then moving on to the statewide office. The Republican has for months been asking Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell's office about the status of the voting probe. The agency has resisted releasing records, citing the ongoing investigation exemption under state law. 'We have determined that because the exempt information is so interwoven within the text of these records, proper redaction would render them meaningless and therefore, withholding them in their entirety is appropriate in this instance,' reads a response from the office in November. In response to a request for comment on overcoming questions about voting impropriety, Hurst said he intends to devote his attention to what he sees as the issues of the day. 'I'll stay focused on what I can control, which is ensuring that our message for a better Springfield gets out to as many voters as possible,' Hurst said. Buoniconti, the city solicitor, said he is hopeful the matter can be resolved one way or another before the next election cycle in the fall. He also expressed frustration over the length of time it has taken Campbell's office to address the situation, despite the fact that the city turned over all records that were requested and made its staff available for interviews. He said the attorney general's office has obtained records on which voters registered and cast their ballots the same day. 'There's a cloud that is hanging over the electoral process in the city and we need to resolve that so people have confidence in the integrity of the electoral process,' Buoniconti said. He noted a climate of 'political violence' across the nation and recalled that Sarno's tires were slashed outside City Hall last year, and the suspect was a man identified as one of the people on the same-day voting list. Court records show the alleged tire slasher, Steven Kostorizos, was charged with the crime. The case is stayed because he was deemed by a judge as not competent to stand trial. Hurst said he is running for the council again after pleas from supporters 'that I would not stop fighting for them, for their children and families, and for a better Springfield.' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Advance voting begins for June 17 Special Primary Election in Camden County
Camden County voters can vote early for the June 17 Special Primary Election for Public Service Commissioner, Districts 2 and 3, starting May 27. The advance voting is available at the County Annex in Kingsland and the Elections Office in Woodbine on different dates. All the registered voters in Camden County can vote early, regardless of their assigned Election Day date. Absentee by mail ballot applications must be submitted by June 6, and ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Election Day voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at voters' assigned polling locations. May 19 is the last day to register to vote in the June 17 Special Primary Election. For more information, visit the Camden County website. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters' Guide: Super Tuesday elections in Clay County
Super Tuesday elections will be held in parts of Clay County on April 8th. People within the limits of Green Cove Springs and Keystone Heights will be able to vote on the future of their cities. Below is each ballot measure, as well as voting locations and times. City Council, Seat 5: Voters have a choice between Dave Daigle and Darren Stutts. Charter Amendment No. 1: Increasing compensation for City Council Members: If passed, salaries for city council members will increase from 6,000 to 7,200 annually. The mayor's monthly extra salary would increase from $100 to $120. Charter Amendment No. 2: Increase budgeted spending authority of City Manager from $25,000 to $50,000: If passed, the City Manager will have more control over budget spending. Charter Amendment No. 3: Allowing the City Manager the authority to issue a local state of emergency declaration: If passed, the City Manager's power will increase, allowing them to declare a local state of emergency during events like natural disasters and riots. Charter Amendment No. 4: Allowing the City Attorney to have an office and residence outside of the City limits: If passed, the City Attorney will not be required to live in or have an office within Green Cove Springs. Charter Amendment No. 5: Requiring review of City Charter to be made at least every ten (10) years: If passed, it would extend the current requirement of charter review from every five years to every ten years. Registered voters can do so at Green Cove Springs City Hall from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. on Election Day. For anyone with vote-by-mail ballots, they must be returned to the Elections Office by 7 P.M. Tuesday. A Secure Ballot Intake Station is available inside the Elections Office during regular business hours (M-F, 8:30-4:30). [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] City Council, Seat 2: Voters have a choice between incumbent Christine 'Chris' Thompson and Dave Welch. Registered voters can do so at Keystone Heights City Hall from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. on Election Day. For anyone with vote-by-mail ballots, they must be returned to the Elections Office by 7 P.M. Tuesday. A Secure Ballot Intake Station is available inside the Elections Office during regular business hours (M-F, 8:30-4:30). View sample ballots for both elections by clicking here. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Worth ISD election: Incumbent accuses opponent of illegal campaign activity
A school board trustee with the Fort Worth Independent School District, who is running for reelection, has accused her opponent of illegal campaign practices. No investigations have been opened as of Friday, April 4. District 1 Trustee Camille Rodriguez took to Facebook recently to share claims that campaign workers for her opponent, Amanda Inay, 'are currently in our community attempting to gather mail-in ballots from some of our most vulnerable community members, our seniors.' Inay denies the claims. 'This practice is ILLEGAL and know that I will be naming names and reporting these individuals to the Tarrant County Elections Office,' Rodriguez wrote. 'If you can't win by your own merit, you don't need to be running for office. To tell a 90 plus year old that she can vote today and you will fill out her ballot is WRONG. This shameful practice has gone on for far too long in our communities.' Inay told the Star-Telegram, 'We should be running campaigns on our own merit, not trying to sabotage the character, the integrity of the other person. For me, it's important to stay focused on what is important. And what's important right now is the fact that our kids cannot read, and if they can read, it's not on level. Our teachers are leaving in droves. Of course, with (Superintendent) Dr. Molinar here now, it's helping some of that, right? But we have so much work to do.' Voters will decide on May 3 whether to keep Rodriguez for a new four-year term or replace her with Inay to represent the district's north side community. Rodriguez is a podiatrist and former substitute teacher who was elected to the seat in 2022 following the resignation of her predecessor. She also served on the board from 2004 to 2008. Inay is a former Fort Worth ISD teacher who was awarded district teacher of the year in 2022-23. She now works at Rocketship Dennis Dunkins Elementary, a public charter school in east Fort Worth, teaching fourth- and fifth-grade humanities. Tarrant County spokesperson Regina Calderon said the Elections Office is unaware of any complaints regarding Rodriguez's claims. Rodriguez told the Star-Telegram she filled out a complaint form on the Elections Office website. The Tarrant County District Attorney's Office confirmed it had received an email about the issue but has provided no further information. Fort Worth ISD officials said the district does not oversee voter or campaign-related complaints. 'Depending on the nature of the complaint, the Texas Secretary of State's Office, the Texas Ethics Commission, and/or the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office would be the appropriate entities to file a complaint,' district officials said in a statement. Inay said she has received no calls or inquiries from officials regarding Rodriguez's claims. Rodriguez said she received a text message from a constituent that said Inay's team told her she could vote for Inay 'that same day.' Rodriguez declined to share a screenshot of the text message with the Star-Telegram or connect a reporter with the unnamed constituent. 'That's the thing that's hitting me. You can't do that,' Rodriguez said in reference to telling a constituent they can vote for a candidate immediately. 'I'm very supportive of mail-in ballots because it's a way for elderly people to still continue to be in the voting process… but there's something wrong with somebody knocking on your door and saying, 'You can vote today.'' Inay said the only person who's been knocking on doors besides herself and her family is a professional canvasser that her consulting group hired. He wasn't in the north side area at the time Rodriguez alleges the incident happened, which was March 28, Inay said. 'The only thing I can conclude as to why she would have done this is because my consulting group sent out a very nicely-put-together mailer to every senior citizen in District 1, basically introducing me to them. It just gave them instructions on how they can vote by mail, should they choose to — basically, how to apply,' Inay said. Registered voters in Tarrant County can request a mail-in ballot if they face obstacles that prevent them from voting in-person. This includes, for example, voters who are at least 65 years old, voters with a disability and voters with an 'expected absence' from the county during the early voting period and Election Day. Applications for mail-in ballots must be submitted at least 11 business days prior to Election Day. Texas Election Code states a person can help a voter complete their early voting ballot application but must fill out the assistant portion of the application unless the person is related to the voter or is registered at the same address. The person can help the voter complete the form, but the voter must be able to sign their own name. 'There is no limit to the number of applicants that a person may assist or possess for mailing to the Elections Department,' according to guidance from the Tarrant County Elections Office. Election Code also states that a witness, or someone who signs an application for a voter who is unable to sign it due to a physical disability or illiteracy, is limited to helping one voter in the same election or one voter in a calendar year who applies for annual ballots. The witness must sign it and provide their name and address unless they are related by blood or marriage to the voter. Those who are assistants or witnesses for voters and don't follow election code can face varying levels of misdemeanors. Similar rules apply to those helping a voter with marking or reading their ballot. 'An assistant must sign the written oath that is part of the certificate on the official carrier envelope and must include the assistant's printed name and residence address. There is no limit to the number of voters that a person may assist, however it is a criminal offense for a person to be compensated for assisting a voter in marking a ballot if the compensation is in any way based upon the number of votes assisted,' Tarrant County election guidance states. The Fort Worth ISD District 1 race is one of four district positions on the ballot on May 3. District 8 Trustee and incumbent Anael Luebanos is running uncontested. Early voting runs from April 22-29.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Leon Supervisor of Elections encouraging voters to request vote-by-mail ballots
The 2026 elections are still months away but the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office is encouraging voters to request their vote-by-mail ballots now. "Although the 2024 General Election concluded only a few months ago ... I encourage voters to also start preparing by requesting your Vote-By-Mail ballot today. This way, you can ensure you will receive your ballot for the 2026 Primary and General Elections," Supervisor of Elections for Leon County Mark Earley said in a news release. A recent change in Florida law caused all vote-by-mail ballot requests to expire last year. That means any previous requests need to be renewed. Earley's office is doing everything it can to remind local voters to check their status, spokesperson Alexandra Mosca said: "The Elections Office will initially email these voters, then follow up with a physical letter to voters who did not respond to the email, or who could not be sent it due to having no email address on file. "This focused outreach ensures that voters who have shown an interest in voting by mail have the information they need to continue to do so." A single ballot request covers all elections through the end of 2026, so it will apply to any special elections that may occur between now and the 2026 Primary Election. To request a Vote-by-Mail ballot, use the online tool at Voters with questions can contact the Elections Office by email – Vote@ – or by phone, (850) 606-8683. Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@ and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Voting by mail? Here's how to request mail-in ballot in Leon County
