The Secretary of State’s Office will expand on its claims of illegal votes cast during the special election earlier this year before a joint legislative committee on Thursday, September 14.
The Democratic chair of the State Administration and Veteran Affairs Interim Committee, Sue Malek from Missoula, is requesting Republican Secretary of State Corey Stapleton to provide more information on the ballots the Secretary of State alleges were cast illegally in May.
Secretary Stapleton told lawmakers in the SAVA committee in July that while voter fraud isn’t rampant in Montana, the state needs to take a harder look at what could be happening.
“In the special election for example, over 300 signatures were illegal statewide,” said Stapleton.
After that statement, Senator Malek sent a formal request to the Secretary’s office asking for more information.
The request asks for the number of fraudulent votes in each county, the rationale for those votes being classified as fraudulent, and what legal actions have been taken in counties to pursue the claims of voter fraud.
Secretary Stapleton is not expected to appear before the legislative committee. Stapleton’s chief of staff will read a letter in response Senator Malek’s request.
