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Canadian citizen, 76, accused of illegally voting in 2016 elections in Orange County

Sean Emery, The Orange County Register on

Published in News & Features

LOS ANGELES — A 76-year-old Canadian is facing four felonies after prosecutors allege he illegally voted in the 2016 primary and general elections, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said on Thursday.

He was charged with one count of perjury, two of violating the state elections code for not being entitled to vote in an election, and a fourth count for voter-registration fraud, according to an OC DA statement.

He has pleaded not guilty, court records show.

The defendant is a Canadian citizen and a legal permanent resident of the United States.

Prosecutors say the Orange County Registrar of Voters does not independently verify the citizenship of people registered to vote.

The accusations were reported to the District Attorney’s Office election-fraud hotline. Prosecutors have an election-response team meant to combat voter fraud, voter intimidation or other efforts to undermine elections.

 

“Any allegation of electoral interference will be thoroughly investigated and if there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed, we will hold those responsible accountable for their actions,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement.

A senior DA official recently told the Southern California News Group that the county has prosecuted dozens of elections-related crimes over the last 20 years, including defendants accused of lying about their residency to seek elected office, or who falsified documents.

In recent weeks, DA officials announced two different cases involving falsified nomination papers allegedly filed by Rancho Santa Margarita mayor and longtime City Council member Carol Gamble and Fullerton City Council candidate Scott Markowitz.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Election Fraud Hotline can be contacted via 657-707-4048 or by emailing 2024.elections@ocdapa.org.

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