Schuylkill County officials were recently made aware of an instance of potential voter fraud allegedly involving mail-in ballots.
However, an investigation into this claim is in its very early stages, Courthouse officials said this week.
“There is an investigation into potential voter fraud but I can’t confirm that it’s voter fraud at this point,” County Solicitor David Rice said Tuesday. “To the extent of how far it’s gone, it’s in its infancy, to the best of my knowledge.”
Rice, who serves at Solicitor for the Schuylkill County Election Bureau, in the last 30 days “there was a question about a request for ballots at a premises which was vacant. It was suspicious.”
The Solicitor said he couldn’t elaborate on when this request came to the Election Bureau nor would he say the origin of the request or the location of this alleged vacant premises. He added that he isn’t sure how the information initially came to the Election Bureau.
“It was something that was turned over,” Rice said.
He added that the address where the request for the ballots is alleged to have originated is “suspected of being unoccupied.”
“Whether there was actually people in there, I’m not sure,” Rice added. “I’ve not received any concrete evidence.”
Information about this case of potential voter fraud was handed over to Schuylkill County District Attorney Mike O’Pake for further investigation.
On Tuesday, O’Pake stopped very short of even confirming an investigation was taking place. He said he was awaiting more information before his office even begins looking into the claim.
Election Bureau Director Al Gricoski did not comment on the matter.
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