Minnesota officials threaten activists who exposed suspect voting scheme

By Bob Unruh

James O'Keefe (Video screenshot)
James O’Keefe (Video screenshot)

State officials in Minnesota have launched a series of threats, and an investigation, after undercover activists James O’Keefe and Cam Higby released videos documenting the state’s suspect procedures that allow one person to “vouch” for up to eight other voters who are not registered.

The state has been plagued with a number of controversies in recent months, including a massive federal crackdown on illegal aliens present in the state. Further, there have been dozens and dozens of criminal cases brought in what apparently in a massive fraud on the American taxpayers inflicted largely by members of the state’s Somali immigrant community. Experts estimate the social services fraud schemes have cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

O’Keefe and Higby just days ago released video documenting how they were told they could, if registered voters, vouch for up to eight more unregistered people in a plan set up by the state that would then allow those eight to vote immediately.

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Secretary of State Steve Simon lashed out:

The group used concealed cameras to record their interactions with poll workers, releasing a heavily edited video of their encounters. Their apparent goal was to cast doubt on one or more Minnesota election laws that have been in force for over fifty years. Instead, they revealed their ignorance of how those laws actually work – while putting themselves in legal jeopardy.

Poll workers immediately reported these visits to local election officials and law enforcement is reviewing the situation.

The misconduct by this group is outrageous and totally unacceptable. We have zero tolerance for lying, lawbreaking, and disruptions at our polling places.

Voters deserve better, as do the tens of thousands of our neighbors and friends who serve as poll workers. Our aim, as always, is to ensure that our polling places are islands of calm. Minnesota laws are there to ensure that outcome.

A report from the Gateway Pundit pointed out O’Keefe explained the state’s “voter vouching” strategy.

“Under Minnesota’s Statutes § 201.061, a registered voter can sign an affidavit affirming that they know another individual resides in the same precinct, allowing that person to register at the polls without presenting standard proof of residence. One registered voter can vouch for up to eight people,” O’Keefe said.

“We wanted to find out what this actually looks like inside a polling place and how far election workers would let us take it,” he said.

O’Keefe, in costume, asked about the process and a poll worker instructed: “If you’re all in the same precinct and you are already registered, you can vouch for them as ID. Eight people.”

The original reporting by O’Keefe and Higby noted O’Keefe was told “You’re the ID” for extra voters.

State workers even, the originally reports said, were comfortable with individuals introduced as “Hamas militants” voting.

O’Keefe and Higby, in their original reporting, confirmed, “No ballots were cast, no affidavits were signed, and the sole purpose was to test and expose the system.”

O’Keefe had just finished an investigation in Michigan, discover that voters sometimes voted twice.

WATCH (Be forewarned about offensive language throughout):

 

Bob Unruh

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is currently a news editor for the WND News Center, and also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially. Read more of Bob Unruh's articles here.


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