The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 12, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
November 6th, the Mesa County, Colorado district attorney’s office announced charges against two women who allegedly stole mail-in ballots, filled them out and submitted them in an attempt to test the ballot signature verification process.
News site Colorado Politics reports that a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, Vicki Lyn Stuart, allegedly provided Sally Jane Smith with 16 mail-in ballots intended for citizens in Grand Junction Colorado.
When county election officials found signature discrepancies, one intended voter contacted by the election office said they had not voted, and another voter, using the state’s ballot tracking system, said the system showed he had voted, when he had not. Local officials alerted the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation launched an inquiry in late October.
Smith is accused of filling out and returning the ballots, and faces six counts of felony identity theft, two felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant, and six counts of forgery. Mail carrier Stuart faces 16 counts of felony identity theft, 16 felony counts of forgery, and attempting to influence a public servant. If convicted, both women face substantial fines and/or prison time. Smith is a registered Republican, and Stuart, an independent.
Such election fraud is so infrequent, it rarely if ever affects election outcomes.
We have links to the detailed local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Colorado Secretary of State – Ballot Fraud Scheme Under Investigation in Mesa County
Colorado Newsline – Multiple fraudulent ballots returned in Mesa County, Colorado election officials say
Colorado Politics – Two Mesa County women arrested in alleged fraudulent mail-in ballot scheme
Colorado Newsline – 2 Mesa County women arrested in fraudulent ballot scheme
Brennan Center for Justice – Extensive research reveals that fraud is very rare.
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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