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. Washington. 2010. Duplicate Voting. Fraudulent Use of Abs. Ballots. Criminal Conviction. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2009. Fraudulent Use of Abs. Ballots. Criminal Conviction. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2008. Fraudulent Use of Abs. Ballots. Diversion Program. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2008. Ineligible Voting. Diversion Program. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2007. False Registrations. Diversion Program. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2007. False Registrations. Criminal Conviction. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2007. False Registrations. Criminal Conviction. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2007. False Registrations. Criminal Conviction. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2006. False Registrations. Fraudulent Use of Abs. Ballots. Diversion Program. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2005. Fraudulent Use of Abs. Ballots. Diversion Program. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2005. Fraudulent Use of Abs. Ballots. Diversion Program. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary
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. Washington. 2004. Duplicate Voting. Criminal Conviction. Fraud Investigation. Report Summary