Press Release – March 2, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sen. Karen Peterson (302) 999-7522
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sen. Karen Peterson (302) 999-7522
Sen. Peterson calls for investigation into possible voting fraud in Red Clay referendum
Sen. Karen Peterson, D-Stanton, has asked Attorney General Matt Denn to investigate possible voter fraud in last Tuesday's Red Clay Consolidated School District referendum vote.
Peterson’s request was triggered by a report about a group of parents who had just voted at one polling place and indicated that they were on their way to a second polling place to vote again. Residents are not assigned a specific polling place in school district referendums and can vote at any school within the district, meaning there’s no way for poll workers to know if a person has already voted elsewhere.
“In an election where nearly 12,000 people voted and 880 votes decided the outcome, it would only take 441 duplicate votes to change the results of the election,” Peterson said. “Before Red Clay raises property taxes, I want to be assured that the election was not affected by fraudulent voting.”
The Department of Elections for New Castle County requires each voter to sign an affidavit and the department has 15 days from the referendum to identify any duplicate votes prior to certifying the election results. The Red Clay referendum was held on Feb. 24.
Peterson said that Attorney General Denn has committed to working with the Department of Elections to determine if any residents cast multiple votes.
Peterson’s request was triggered by a report about a group of parents who had just voted at one polling place and indicated that they were on their way to a second polling place to vote again. Residents are not assigned a specific polling place in school district referendums and can vote at any school within the district, meaning there’s no way for poll workers to know if a person has already voted elsewhere.
“In an election where nearly 12,000 people voted and 880 votes decided the outcome, it would only take 441 duplicate votes to change the results of the election,” Peterson said. “Before Red Clay raises property taxes, I want to be assured that the election was not affected by fraudulent voting.”
The Department of Elections for New Castle County requires each voter to sign an affidavit and the department has 15 days from the referendum to identify any duplicate votes prior to certifying the election results. The Red Clay referendum was held on Feb. 24.
Peterson said that Attorney General Denn has committed to working with the Department of Elections to determine if any residents cast multiple votes.
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Press Contacts
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov
Scott Goss
Communications Director
(302) 744-4180
scott.goss@delaware.gov
Dylan McDowell
Communications Assistant
(302) 744-4282
dylan.mcdowell@delaware.gov