Violations found in Baker County election procedures

An investigation into voter fraud in Baker County finds several dozen violations by the elections office and a resident.

The Secretary of State's office found 40 violations regarding absentee ballots and how they were processed by the Baker County Elections Office.

A resident filed the complaint in 2012 saying he was offered $100 to vote for a candidate in the Sheriff's race. While investigators didn't find evidence to support that accusation they did uncover other irregularities.

"This is a civil matter and just a matter from our standpoint, to correct any mishandling of absentee ballots, try to remedy that and we'll get everything back on course," said Tommy Coleman, the Baker County attorney.

"We've got to take a look at those ballots and that requires an order of the court to allow us to go in and investigate the ballots. So we'll look at that and try to answer the complaint," explained Coleman.

Coleman will represent the county board of elections at a hearing with officials from the secretary of state's office October 7th.

Jeanette Jackson is also named in the report, accused of assisting people with completing their ballots and possessing the elector's unsealed ballots.

She denied any wrongdoing and was advised by her attorney not to provide a statement to investigators.

"If they find that anybody has violated any criminal laws, that could be sent to the district attorney and then it moves to a different process at that point," said Coleman.

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