A criminal investigation has been launched in Pennsylvania after election workers in Lancaster County flagged approximately 2,500 voter registration forms for potential fraud. The forms, which arrived just before the state's registration deadline, exhibited various irregularities such as false names, suspicious handwriting, questionable signatures, incorrect addresses, and other problematic details.
Authorities have indicated that this appears to be part of an organized effort, with two other counties also receiving similar applications and being advised to investigate. The applications have been segregated during the investigation to prevent any invalid ballots from being processed.
Lancaster County District Attorney stated that about 3 in 5 of the applications investigated so far have shown issues. While some applications have been verified as accurate, the majority have raised concerns. The applications were primarily collected through a large-scale canvassing operation, with most originating from Lancaster City.
Officials emphasized that the fraudulent activity is not limited to a single party and was spread across various locations in Lancaster County. The Pennsylvania Department of State commended the election workers for their vigilance in identifying the potential fraud and alerting law enforcement.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the extent of the fraudulent activity and identify those involved. The state's 19 electoral votes are highly contested, making the integrity of the voter registration process crucial in the upcoming election.
Efforts are being made to ensure that only valid voter registrations are processed, and steps are being taken to address the situation promptly. The state attorney general's office has been informed of the investigation but has not provided any comments at this time.
