Task force to target voter, election fraud

By Amanda Finnegan

Published Thursday, July 31, 2008 | 12:55 p.m.

Updated Thursday, July 31, 2008 | 7:22 p.m.

With expectations of a record number of voters in November, state officials and federal authorities Thursday announced an effort to target voter and election fraud.

The Election Integrity Task Force, developed by Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller, state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI, plans to investigate questionable voter registration practices, voter fraud and intimidation.

"The task force is a multi-jurisdictional effort, an effort to work proactively rather that retroactively if there are any claims of fraud or intimidation," said Miller, the state's chief election official.

The task force comes a few months before a presidential election in which Nevada will play the role of a swing state.

Potential violations the task force will target include individuals who register voters who are paid per application, multiple registration applications with identical handwriting -- which could indicate someone has registered under different names -- and discarded registrations by special-interest groups.

Mastro added that violations -- which can lead to both misdemeanor and felony charges -- can include bribes, intimidation at the polling place and interfering with the conduct of elections.

Miller said the task force already is looking into potential violations, adding that complaints in previous elections have advanced to criminal cases. A state investigation in 2004 found no organized fraud in Nevada, although there were cases of individual fraud.

Task force members urged new voters and residents Thursday to register with the county registrar's office, then check their registration status at www.silverstate08.com.

“If you register to vote with a person or an organization conducting a registration drive, it’s your responsibility to make sure that the application ultimately makes it to the county registrar’s office,” Miller said.

A toll-free number is being established for citizens to report possible election fraud.