Republicans Protect Their Own in Virginia Voter Fraud Case

image
Matt MetznerMatt Metzner
Published: 22 Oct, 2012
2 min read
Credit: Newscom/ZumaPress

Colin Small dodging voter fraud investigations in Virginia

Tomorrow’s Democracy has covered the issue of voter fraud extensively in its argument for implementing a national online voting system. The central argument against an online voting system is the assumed risk of voter fraud. Aside from the lack of factual information to support the argument, another wrench is thrown into the system when voter fraud presents itself and goes unpunished.

Voter registration is the main area where voter fraud can occur. Individuals, political groups, and clerks all have access to voter registration info and could be implicated in perpetuating voter fraud.

Recently a Republican contractor who was hired by the Republican Party of Virginia to conduct voter registration drives was implicated in a voter fraud scheme. Colin Small, was charged with voter fraud crimes after state investigators found as many as nine voter registration applications were found in a trash bin behind a store.

The chair of the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus pushed for the Virginia Attorney General to investigate the case. The Republican Attorney General has refused to investigate after the State Board of Elections failed to call for an investigation.

The head of the State Board of Elections, Charlie Judd, also happens to be a Republican official and former executive director of the Virginia Republican Party.

Brandi Lilly, Virginia Registrar has defended the decision by stating. “there’s no way to tell by party when people fill out these forms, what party they’re affiliated with, so I don’t think there’s any political motivation.”

With all due respect to Miss Lilly, the old idiom, if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it’s a duck should apply here. This is clearly a partisan battle, but it is coming at the expense of Virginia citizens and those who are pushing for a factual discussion on voter fraud.

Two Republican leaders are lining up to protect one of their own who has made headlines, perpetuated voter fraud, and is now walking away scot-free.

IVP Donate

You Might Also Like

Proposition 50 voter guide
California Prop 50: Partisan Power Play or Necessary Counterpunch?
November 4 marks a special election for what has become the most controversial ballot measure in California in recent memory: Proposition 50, which would circumvent congressional districts drawn by the state’s independent redistricting commission for a legislative-drawn map....
01 Oct, 2025
-
9 min read
court gavel.
Virtual Discussion: The Fight for Equal Independent Voting Rights Makes it to SCOTUS
Every major voting rights movement in U.S. history – whether successful or not – has intertwined with landmark litigation. This was the case for women’s suffrage. It was the case for civil rights. And it is the case in the ongoing effort to protect the right of all voters to have equal participation in taxpayer-funded elections – something millions of independent voters are denied across the U.S....
29 Sep, 2025
-
2 min read
Supreme Court building
SCOTUS Considers Challenge to Closed Primaries -- Here's Why It Is Such a Big Deal
In a dramatic step forward for litigation challenging closed primaries, the U.S. Supreme Court has indicated they are going to conference to discuss whether to grant a writ of certiorari to Polelle v. Florida Secretary of State; a case challenging Florida's closed primaries that Open Primaries has supported since its inception....
26 Sep, 2025
-
2 min read