A state investigation in Palm Beach County found clear-cut evidence of voter fraud in last year’s August primary election.
Investigators with the State Attorney’s Office found more than 20 forged signatures on request forms for absentee ballots. They investigated the case over the past year, but could not identify a suspect.
In some instances, voters said they received an absentee ballot in the mail without ever filling out a request form.
A memo from the State Attorney’s Office obtained by the Palm Beach Post details the investigation and findings.
It was touched off by last July by Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. She told investigators she believed about 2,000 absentee ballots or ballot request forms could be fraudulent, according to the memo.
Bucher alleged people working for certain political campaigns approached voters in their homes. She suspected the campaigners manipulated the voters by offering money or gift cards, or by outright forging the voter’s signature on forms.
Forgery, voter coercion and requesting a ballot for someone who is not a family member are all felony offenses.
The Post reports prosecutors are dropping the case.
This is the third voter fraud case in Palm Beach County in two years. None have resulted in charges.
