July 10, 2007
King County Elections cancels fraudulent registration
Prosecuting Attorney seeks legal action
Director of King County Elections Sherril Huff today canceled the registration of Duncan M. MacDonald, an illegal registration presented to King County Elections by Jane K. Balogh.
When Balogh fraudulently registered her Australian shepherd terrier-mix dog in August 2006, she knowingly and illegally declared her pet was a legal United States citizen, 18 years old, and a citizen of Washington state; a violation of both federal and state laws. Huff forwarded the case to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office after Balogh returned a ballot in her dog’s name in the May 15 special election.
"This incident provides a compelling example of the need to examine processes and to identify and respond quickly to signs of registration fraud," said Huff. "While we are legally bound to follow registration laws and use the tools available to verify proper ID, we still must be vigilant in protecting our voter rolls and act quickly to forward suspect cases on to the proper legal authorities."
Voter-eligibility standards are determined by federal and state law and confirmed using a statewide voter registration database to verify identification. In this case, instead of providing a driver’s license or social security number, Balogh used a phone bill in the name of her dog. This alternative form of identification is permitted through the Help America Vote Act and state laws.
"Election laws are thorough but can be the subject of illegal activity. When someone tries to illegally infiltrate the system, it is important we identify the issues, take a stand and send a message that this type of behavior has consequences," said Huff.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed gross misdemeanor charges against Balogh for providing false information on a voter-registration application. A case setting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 11, 2007.
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