SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Critics who suggests there was voter fraud going in Surrey were apparently right.
Mounties say investigators have checked out 73 cases where people’s personal information was used to get applications to vote by mail, and 67 of them were bogus.
“We have not found any evidence that would link any candidate or party to the fraudulent applications, and at this time we have not revealed any indication that people were induced or intimidated in any manner to provide their personal information or to vote for a specific candidate,” Cpl. Elenore Sturko with the Surrey RCMP says.
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She stresses that no ballots were delivered to voters as a result of the fraudulent applications, and adds the Chief Elections Officer did take measures to “amend the application process to preserve the integrity of the election process.”
The applications were fraudulent in that they were not completed or signed by the voter listed on the form, Sturko explains. In all but two of the applications, the forms correctly listed the applicant’s address for delivery, she adds.
“In two of those of the 67 asking it to be delivered to a different address, not the applicant’s correct address.”
It’s unclear where the two applications were going to be sent to.
Police have interviewed two people who may have been involved in the scheme, but no charges have been laid.
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“We will need further investigation to determine whether criminal charges or charges under the local government act are warranted,” Sturko tells NEWS 1130.
“This is not something that we’ve done in the past, however we do take fraud seriously. We’re dealing with this very seriously — we’ve had quite a large team assemble so that we can expedite this investigation.”
Concerns about potential voter fraud were reported to the RCMP on Sept. 28. At least one mayoral candidate had pushed to scrap mail-in ballots just days later in order to make sure any apparent scheme didn’t succeed.
