Atlantic City man charged with voting under two names

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The brother of a well-known political activist has been indicted on voter fraud charges.

Ronald Callaway, 46, of Atlantic City, who also goes by the name Jihad Abdullah, is accused of casting more than one ballot in several municipal elections dating back two years.

From the Press of Atalantic City

July 2, 2002

Indictment: Callaway brother voted early, often
By JEREMY OLSHAN Staff Writer, (609) 272-7275, E-Mail

Ronald Callaway has been indicted on charges he voted nine times in four elections, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Blitz said Monday.

Also known as Jihad Abdullah, Callaway voted under both names and also signed nominating petitions for Mayor Lorenzo Langford and Councilman Ramon Rosario, Blitz said. He is not accused of voting twice, however, in the June 4 Democratic primary, in which his brother, Craig Callaway, narrowly defeated Stephenine Dixon in the 3rd Ward City Council contest.

Ronald Callaway is charged with multiple counts of fraudulent voting, false voter registration, false nomination petition, violation of absentee-ballot laws and tampering with public records.

Last month, Callaway also was accused of participating in a knife fight with a Langford supporter outside a city Democratic meeting. No charges were filed, and both participants in the alleged duel have since denied any blades were drawn.

Callaway registered to vote in the 1st Ward in 1998. In 2000, he registered under the name Jihad Abdullah under an address in the 3rd Ward.

According to Blitz, Callaway:

Voted three times in November 2000 - twice by absentee and a third time in person. This happened despite the county's election system, which supposedly prevents absentee voters from voting in person as well.

Voted twice in the April 2000 school board election and the June 2001 primary, both by absentee ballot.

Voted twice in the November 2001 general election, in which Langford defeated former Mayor James Whelan. He voted as Callaway by absentee, Abdullah in person.

Signed and circulated nominating petitions using both names.

If convicted, Callaway faces a maximum prison term of five years for each of the false nomination petition and false public record charges, and a maximum of 18 months for each of the fraudulent voting and absentee voting violations.

Callaway, 46, says he legally changed his name to Jihad Abdullah more than 20 years ago. While he no longer goes by Abdullah, he says he has not had a chance to legally change the name back.

He insists that he only voted one time in the elections. "It must be a clerical error on the part of the Board of Elections," he said last month.

Callaway has since asked Superintendent of Elections Joanne Armbruster to purge the name Abdullah from the voting records.

County Executive Dennis Levinson has long criticized the county's election system for failing to verify the identity of voters, but he doubts Blitz will be able to make his case.

"There is no proof of identity required in Atlantic County, so consequently how would you know it was Ronald Callaway or someone else saying they were Ronald Callaway," Levinson said. "What's even more troubling is that the state of New Jersey is going to make it easier to cheat in elections by allowing absentee ballots on demand. This will be an absolute disaster. It allows for too much mischief and fraud."

Even though Callaway's indictment has no impact on the 3rd Ward council race, Dixon's attorney says the charges support their allegations that Craig Callaway's victory was fraudulent. Dixon is expected to file a court contest of the election this week.

Craig Callaway had no comment on the indictment.

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