MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Prosecutor’s Office received one suspected election law violation reference from the secretary of state’s office.
Ohio Sec. of State Frank LaRose referred evidence of suspected election law violations to numerous county prosecutors for review and possible criminal prosecution Aug.12, according to his press release.
“We take every allegation of wrongdoing in our elections seriously, whether it’s a fake signature on a petition, a fraudulent voter registration form or a stolen vote,” LaRose said in the release.
“Today we’re handing over evidence to prosecutors in 20 counties, where dishonest individuals were apparently trying to game the system.
“Every one of these has the potential to fraudulently impact an election, and, even though fraud is rare, it’s important to keep it that way by sending a clear message that misconduct won’t be tolerated.”
Knox County Board of Elections received a petition with a signature reported to originate from Apple Valley, Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville said. The person died in 2019.
The circulator of the petition was from Franklin County, McConville said. This crime would fall under election falsification, a fifth-degree felony.
McConville said he sent a few sheriff’s office detectives to talk to a woman who was gathering signatures in Franklin County, where the alleged election falsification occurred.
“She didn’t know who it was (the petitioner,)” McConville said.
Knox County Board of Elections officials disqualified the signature, McConville said, but there’s no way to prove fraud at this time.