Cross-state voter comparison identifies double voters

CO and KS identify individuals who voted twice in 2010 election

Denver, January 23, 2012 - Secretary of State Scott Gessler today announced his office referred information to the FBI regarding individuals suspected of voting twice during the 2010 election. Following a comparison of voting records between Kansas and Colorado, six voters appear to have cast ballots in both states.

“Voter fraud undermines our electoral system,” Secretary Gessler said. “I will continue to be vigilant and undertake these kinds of anti-fraud measures. These state crosschecks are an important component in ensuring the integrity of our election process.”

Since 2008, Colorado has shared voter records with a consortium of states to monitor and identify cross-state voters. In 2008, four individuals were indicted by an Arizona grand jury for voting in both Colorado and Arizona. Now, following the 2010 election, the investigation has resulted in six cases of individuals who voted both in Colorado and Kansas.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s office turned over information to the FBI that matched individual voter records including date of birth and signature on ballots cast in both Colorado and Kansas during the November 2010 election. In all six cases, the individuals voted either early or by mail ballot in Colorado: in five cases, the individual voted by mail ballot in Colorado and in one case, the individual voted during early voting in Colorado.

Persons convicted of voter fraud in Colorado can be sentenced to three years in prison and fines in excess of $1,000.