Department of Justice Investigating Alleged Ballot Fraud At Clackamas County Elections

Sources say election worker filled in ballots for Republican candidates

By NIGEL JAQUISS

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A Clackamas County elections worker is under criminal investigation for tampering with ballots, WW has learned. 

The underlying allegation is that the woman, whose name has not been released, filled in blanks on ballots turned into the county for the Nov. 6 general election.

Sources familiar with the incident say their understanding is that the woman filled in a straight Republican ticket on the ballots where preferences had been left blank by voters.

Elections law makes marking another person's ballot a class C felony.

Clackamas County Elections Clerk Sherry Hall could not be reached. Tim Heider, public affairs manager for Clackamas County, declined to comment.

The secretary of state's Elections Division handles civil complaints regarding elections matters but does not do criminal investigations. Deputy Secretary of State Barry Pack told WW via email that his agency referred the Clackamas County matter to the Oregon Department of Justice but says he cannot not comment further.

DOJ spokesman Jeff Manning confirms that his agency is on the case.

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