Free Republic

MATHIS, Texas --- South Texas is rife with agents from local political camps who prosper by organizing mail-in ballot fraud, elections administrators and other observers in the region say, even after a state-level push to curb the wrongdoing. The office of state Attorney General Greg Abbott has several open investigations into the practice of shepherding mail-in ballots, mostly in the name of elderly voters. But perpetrators leave a sparse paper trail, election officials say, and the potential five-figure earnings for local operatives far outweigh any punishment levied for committing fraud, typically a misdemeanor. “It’s a racket,” said Nicole Perez, general...

EDINBURG — The Attorney General’s Office is investigating mail-in ballots cast in the 2004 Democratic primary, according to a letter it sent to Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Teresa Navarro. The letter did not specify what the investigation was focusing on. But the office requested a copy of each mail-in ballot application and a copy of each official carrier envelope returned in that election. "This office has received allegations of improprieties with an unknown number of absentee mail-in ballots in that election," the March 10 letter read. Navarro said it appears the investigation involves a total of 12 counties that were...

EDINBURG — Things just keep getting stranger at the Hidalgo County Elections Department, with someone this week trying to obtain a mail ballot for a dead person. Elections Administrator Teresa Navarro said she received a request Wednesday for a mail ballot for a female voter who hasn’t voted since 2000 and died in 2001. Earlier in the week, five Hidalgo County voters filed complaints with the elections department, saying their mail ballots had been tampered with. All five voters are older than 65 and at least four of them live in the Weslaco area or the North McAllen/South Edinburg area....

EDINBURG — Texas Secretary of State Geoffrey Connor wants an investigation into the ballot-tampering claims made by four Hidalgo County voters earlier this week. Connor requested the assistance of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to look into complaints filed by four county residents that at least four mail ballots were tampered with. "We’re drafting a letter to the attorney general’s office that will be sent today," said Jennifer Waisath, director of communication for the secretary of state. "The matter in Hidalgo County over the mail ballot issue is now in the hands of the A.G.’s office for a full investigation."...