Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Secretary of State Jon Husted on Wednesday named a special investigator to review what he called discrepancies in ResponsibleOhio's petitions to place a legalized marijuana constitutional amendment on this year's ballot.
David Bowers, a Lima attorney, will review "significant disparities" between the number of petitions and signatures ResponsibleOhio claimed to have collected and the number the group actually submitted to Husted's office, he stated in a release.
"There are also discrepancies between the hard-copy petitions and what should have been identical electronic copies of those petitions," the release stated. If such discrepancies are found to constitute fraud, they could lead to criminal charges up to a fifth-degree felony, according to Husted's office.
Husted's office also said the Republican secretary of state will subpoena ResponsibleOhio executive director Ian James, James' signature collecting company The Strategy Network and "any relevant records" as part of the investigation.
ResponsibleOhio claims it submitted 695,273 signatures of registered Ohio voters to qualify for the November ballot. Husted's office said only 664,541 were submitted and the number of signatures reported on the electronic copy of the petition submission doesn't match either number.
County boards of election did not validate 4,351 signatures because of technical errors by the petition circulator, many of which were paid signature collectors.
James said last week ResponsibleOhio would challenge the discrepancy at the Ohio Supreme Court.
"We want to see where those other signatures are," James said in an interview last week. "If you invalidate a signature, you still have to account for its review."
ResponsibleOhio fell 29,519 signatures short of the 305,591 needed to qualify for the statewide ballot. The group has until 11:59 p.m. Thursday to collect the difference in order to appear on the November ballot.
"As with every possible case of election fraud, it is my responsibility to investigate and hold accountable anyone who may have cheapened the voice of all Ohioans by cheating the system," said Husted. "I have long stated that voter fraud is rare, but it happens; and when it does, we will call out the guilty parties and hold them accountable."
ResponsibleOhio did not immediately return emails seeking comment. This story will be updated when the group responds.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Special investigator named to review ResponsibleOhio's marijuana legalization petitions for possible fraud | cleveland.com
Author: Jeremy Pelzer
Contact: Contact us - Cleveland.com
Photo Credit: Glen Stubbe, Minneapolis Star Tribune via AP
Website: Cleveland OH Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - cleveland.com
David Bowers, a Lima attorney, will review "significant disparities" between the number of petitions and signatures ResponsibleOhio claimed to have collected and the number the group actually submitted to Husted's office, he stated in a release.
"There are also discrepancies between the hard-copy petitions and what should have been identical electronic copies of those petitions," the release stated. If such discrepancies are found to constitute fraud, they could lead to criminal charges up to a fifth-degree felony, according to Husted's office.
Husted's office also said the Republican secretary of state will subpoena ResponsibleOhio executive director Ian James, James' signature collecting company The Strategy Network and "any relevant records" as part of the investigation.
ResponsibleOhio claims it submitted 695,273 signatures of registered Ohio voters to qualify for the November ballot. Husted's office said only 664,541 were submitted and the number of signatures reported on the electronic copy of the petition submission doesn't match either number.
County boards of election did not validate 4,351 signatures because of technical errors by the petition circulator, many of which were paid signature collectors.
James said last week ResponsibleOhio would challenge the discrepancy at the Ohio Supreme Court.
"We want to see where those other signatures are," James said in an interview last week. "If you invalidate a signature, you still have to account for its review."
ResponsibleOhio fell 29,519 signatures short of the 305,591 needed to qualify for the statewide ballot. The group has until 11:59 p.m. Thursday to collect the difference in order to appear on the November ballot.
"As with every possible case of election fraud, it is my responsibility to investigate and hold accountable anyone who may have cheapened the voice of all Ohioans by cheating the system," said Husted. "I have long stated that voter fraud is rare, but it happens; and when it does, we will call out the guilty parties and hold them accountable."
ResponsibleOhio did not immediately return emails seeking comment. This story will be updated when the group responds.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Special investigator named to review ResponsibleOhio's marijuana legalization petitions for possible fraud | cleveland.com
Author: Jeremy Pelzer
Contact: Contact us - Cleveland.com
Photo Credit: Glen Stubbe, Minneapolis Star Tribune via AP
Website: Cleveland OH Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - cleveland.com
