Latest news with #voterregistration
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
2 Nevada residents charged with conspiring to commit voter registration fraud in Minnesota
The Brief Two residents of Nevada were charged with conspiring to commit voter registration fraud in Minnesota. From 2021 to 2022, the two conspired to create fake names and information to fill out Minnesota voter registration applications. The Minnesota Secretary of State said no fraudulent ballots were ever cast. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Two Nevada residents have been federally charged with conspiring to engage in voter fraud in Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday. What we know According to the DOJ, Ronnie Williams, 58, and Lorraine Lee Combs, 57, Nevada residents formerly of Minnesota, have been charged with conspiracy to engage in voter registration fraud. Starting in 2021 through 2022, Combs and Williams conspired to fill out fake names and information on Minnesota voter registration applications, the DOJ said. Both signed a form that certified they were aware that giving false information on a voter registration form is a felony that could lead to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine or both. Williams then gave the false voter registration forms to a foundation which was seeking to register voters in Minnesota, the DOJ states. The foundation then submitted those voter registration applications to county election offices across Minnesota. According to the DOJ, the foundation would then pay Williams, and he would split it with Combs. The foundation is unnamed and referred to only as "Foundation 1" in charging documents. FOX 9 has reached out to the DOJ to ask why the foundation isn't named and if the foundation is facing charges. Combs and Williams were paid contractors "assisting" the foundation with its voter registration campaign, court documents said. Timeline Court documents state that on Sept. 30, 2022, Combs completed a false voter registration application under the name "Brad Montly" and again on Nov. 1, 2022, under the name "Harry Jhonson". These fake voter registration applications included, on top of fake names, fake addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and social security numbers, court documents allege. What we don't know Court documents did not say what foundation Combs and Williams worked with. It is unknown how many false voter registration applications were filed. What's next Williams is set to appear for an arraignment and change of plea hearing on July 8. What they're saying The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State said no fraudulent ballots were cast in connection with this case. The office partnered with the FBI for over two years on the investigation. The office continued by saying that local election officials used verification tools and found inconsistencies in the voter registration forms and informed law enforcement and the Secretary of State's office. The office then worked with "every county election office" to confirm no fraudulent ballots were cast. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon provided the following statement regarding the case: "Minnesota's elections are free, fair, and secure – and these charges reinforce that fact. These charges prove that our systems work. The extensive checks in Minnesota's voter registration process ensured that the fraudulent applications were immediately flagged, and no ineligible votes were cast. "Our office is deeply grateful for the dedicated election officials across the state and all of our federal partners who protected the integrity of our voter registration system. "Our message to would-be fraudsters is clear: If you try to trick or scheme your way into registering voters in Minnesota, you will be caught and prosecuted." Federal officials also reacted to the charges: "Election fraud strikes at the heart of our democracy," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. "Thankfully, the FBI stopped this fraud in its tracks, before anyone successfully cast a fraudulent ballot. But we will stay vigilant. Whether its jury bribery, witness tampering, or now election fraud—crimes that threaten our democracy have no place in Minnesota." "Nothing is more central to our democracy than fair and impartially conducted elections," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "Through their actions, Combs and Williams attempted to deprive the citizens of Minnesota of a secure and reliable election process. Along with our partners, the FBI will stop at nothing to identify and bring to justice anyone who threatens the security of our electoral system." The Source A press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, and federal court documents.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Minnesota's election safeguards stopped a voter fraud scheme in its tracks, secretary of state says
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Two people have been charged with conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud in a case that shows Minnesota's election safeguards work and prevented anyone from voting illegally, Secretary of State Steve Simon said Friday. The charges announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office allege that Ronnie Williams and Lorraine Lee Combs generated fictitious names and other data they used to fill out Minnesota voter registration forms in 2021 and 2022. The charging documents, filed in federal court on Tuesday, say Williams provided the completed forms to an entity that sought to register voters in Minnesota that is identified only as 'Foundation 1,' which paid him, and that he then split the proceeds with Combs. The documents also indicate that others were involved in the alleged conspiracy, serving as intermediaries between Williams and 'Foundation 1,' which would submit the false registration forms to election offices across the state 'through its agents,' but charges against them have not been announced. Williams and Combs were longtime romantic partners, according to the documents, which don't say how much they were paid. The charges are the result of a two-year investigation by the FBI and the Secretary of State's Office and are punishable by up to five years in prison. 'The extensive checks in Minnesota's voter registration process ensured that the fraudulent applications were immediately flagged, and no ineligible votes were cast,' Simon said in a statement. While voter fraud does happen occasionally, the country's processes provide many safeguards that generally keep it detectable and rare. When it happens, it tends to get caught and prosecuted. 'Election fraud strikes at the heart of our democracy,' Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said in a separate statement. 'Thankfully, the FBI stopped this fraud in its tracks, before anyone successfully cast a fraudulent ballot. But we will stay vigilant.' Court documents suggest that the two defendants plan to plead guilty. They were charged by complaints instead of grand jury indictments, which are normally needed to take a case to trial in federal court. And the case dockets show that Williams has a plea agreement hearing set for July 8, while Combs has a change of plea hearing on June 24. Attorneys for Williams and Combs declined to comment on the charges. The announcement from prosecutors said the two are Nevada residents who formerly lived in Minnesota. Neither has a listed phone number in either state. But Combs told the Minnesota Star Tribune that she filled out roughly 500 forms as part of the operation and turned them over to Williams. She told the newspaper that she didn't know the name of the foundation, and she didn't know how many applications Williams completed illegally. Simon's office said local officials used verification tools that are built into the state's voter registration system to identify inconsistencies on the forms, then immediately reported them to law enforcement and his office. The office then worked with every county election office to confirm that all fraudulent registration attempts would be detected and confirm that no ballots were wrongly requested or cast. 'Our message to would-be fraudsters is clear: If you try to trick or scheme your way into registering voters in Minnesota, you will be caught and prosecuted,' Simon said.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
July 4 deadline for voters to enrol for Samoa election
Photo: 123RF Samoans living abroad must complete their full voter registration by 4 July if they wish to vote in the country's upcoming general election. Samoa's Electoral Commissioner, Toleafoa Tuiafelolo John Stanley, said while online registration is still available for overseas voters, completing the process requires a physical return to Samoa to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and photographs. But he said the electoral office was "doing fine" to be ready. "Before the early dissolution of parliament, the voter registration was 48 percent. As we speak, just looking at that system right now, 2pm [10 June] the voter registration is now 60 percent. "The number of voters registered is 70,395." The electoral roll will close on 4 July. People have been turning up in droves to register. "You should see the booths right now - there's heaps of people coming in," Toleafoa said. "Last night, the booths closed at 11. That's when they completed everybody - 11pm. But we were supposed to close at eight. My staff had to work overtime just to make sure everybody was registered." Toleafoa also confirmed that a bill which would have enabled overseas voting was not passed before Parliament dissolved. This means the Electoral Act 2019 remains in force and votes have to be cast in Samoa. "That bill hasn't been discussed by Parliament - so parliament [has] been dissolved and the bill is still hanging there." On Wednesday, 11 June, the commissioner is to release the election timetable which includes the opening and closing dates of nominations and the period for any withdrawal of nominations. The election date itself is 29 August. The Electoral Office submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court seeking an extension for the elections, to allow more preparation time, but this request was denied . The country's political turbulence started in January and Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa faced two votes of no confidence, her first on 25 February and her second on 6 March. But last month she conceded defeat after her government's budget was voted down. Parliament was formally dissolved on 3 June.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Deadline is June 9 for CT voters seeking to switch parties for Sept. primaries
Monday June 9 is the final day for an enrolled elector looking to switch political parties in time for the Sept. 9 municipal primaries, according to the Connecticut Registrar of Voters. The enrollment takes 90 days to take effect after the form is approved and during those 90 days the resident is not a member of a party. 'Under Connecticut law, voters who belong to a political party must wait three months after changing their party affiliation before they can vote in their new party's primary. This does not apply to unaffiliated voters, who can enroll in a party and gain voting rights in that party immediately, as long as they have been unaffiliated for at least three months,' according to the office of the Secretary of the State. 'In every town that has a primary, the September 9 election will be preceded by six days of early voting from September 2-7. Monday, September 1, is exempt from the early voting window because it is a state holiday,' according to the office of the Secretary of the State. 'In Connecticut, only registered members of a political party can vote in that party's primary. Voters who want to participate in a primary different from the party they belong to now must update their party affiliation by June 9.' To change party political party, visit the local registrar's office or go online at CT Voter On-Line Registration. New voter registration and any changes to registrations can be done online: The Registrar of Voters suggest using a driver's license while using the CT Voter On-Line Registration system. If using a social security number, the application will not be delivered electronically and will have to come through the mail, and may not make deadline. There are currently 2,545,637 current voters registration records in the state. For new voters, you register to vote at See part enrollment statistics by town here.
RNZ News
02-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Samoa electoral commissioner seeks court extension
Photo: RNZI Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia Samoa's Electoral Commissioner says his office has filed an affidavit to the Supreme Court, seeking legal direction and an extra six weeks to complete the electoral roll ahead of an early election. The move follows the announcement of the formal dissolution of Parliament , which comes into force Tuesday, 3 June. The Constitution requires a general election to be held within 90 days. The regular general election had been scheduled for April 2026. Toleafoa Tuiafelolo John Stanley said the Electoral Act does not address what happens in the event of an early election. "That's why we're going to the Supreme Court for a legal direction for the Office of the Commission," he said. "Where we are currently, 53 percent of eligible voters have registered so far... so we haven't closed our rolls. "We are seeking declaration from the court, an order from the court, to give us guidance, because we are going to change all our election timetable. "We're also submitting, as well our new timeline... four months and two weeks." He confirmed that an affidavit was being filed to the Supreme Court "to seek their direction for the Office of the Electoral Commission with a new electoral timeframe" and to request six additional weeks "to complete the electoral roll to make sure our roll is ready in order to conduct an open and fair election". Since the announcement of the early election, voter registration centres across Samoa have seen an increase in foot traffic. "[Thursday] was almost 500 registered voters, and that was in Upolu," Toleafoa said. "It's the same thing with Savai'i. I mean, we've been singing this song since last year, when the registration was open in April last year, up until now, and people are now flooding in, as they know there's an early election." Toleafoa said that overseas diaspora will only be able to vote by returning to Samoa in person. The online portal is open for resgistration but voters will have to travel to Samoa for fingerprinting biometrics. He said the act needs a revamp. "Align it with the Constitution, and also make sure to cover this kind of situation... the current electoral law contradicts against the three months of the Constitution."
