ELKINS,W.Va. – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell and Secretary of State Mac Warner have accused a 47-year-old mail carrier from Dry Fork with alleged manipulation of absentee voter requests.
Court documents say Thomas Cooper, 47, fraudulently altered eight absentee ballot requests in Pendleton County, of which the complaint states he fraudulently changed the party affiliation on five from Democrat to Republican.
“Manipulating one’s absentee ballot or application is not a laughing matter – it’s a federal offense,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “We must protect the integrity of the ballot box, and this demonstrates the aggressive action we will take to do so. It is more important now than ever for voters to watch for unexplained or suspicious marks and/or any other irregularity with their ballot. If something looks suspicious, let us know right away.”
The affidavit states Cooper admitted to getting ballot requests through his employment as a mail carrier while working in the three towns from which the tampered requests were mailed – Onego, Riverton and Franklin.
Pendleton County elections officials caught the fraudulent requests and notified the state’s Election Fraud Task Force.
Secretary of State Warner noted the alertness and quick reaction by Pendleton County election officials, and said, “We want everyone to be tuned into the increased opportunities for fraud. Voting absentee makes it easy to vote, but increases opportunities for irregularities and fraud to occur. If you see something, say something.”