Will Pete Olson Face Voter Fraud Charges?

Shocking new information released by the Lone Star Project shows that GOP Congressional candidate Pete Olson (R-Houston) voted in both Virginia and Connecticut during a five-month period in 2003.

From the Lone Star Project:

By remaining on the voter rolls and casting ballots in both states, Olson may have committed voter fraud. Under Virginia law, a person who intentionally registers to vote in Virginia and any other state or territory is guilty of a felony violation.

Pete Olson lived in Virginia until late 2007, when he moved to Texas to run for Congress.  While in Virginia, he voted regularly in State and local elections. (Voter File, Virginia Democratic Party; See the Documents ) During much of this same period, Olson also maintained his voter registration in Connecticut. ( Newtown, Connecticut, Town Clerk ; See the Documents )  Election documents show that between June and November of 2003, Olson voted in the Virginia Republican Primary, a special election in Newtown, Connecticut and then again in the Virginia General Elections. (Voter File, Virginia Democratic Party; Newtown, Connecticut, Town Clerk )

Virginia does not allow individuals to register in multiple states. The Virginia election code states clearly that any person who “registers to vote at more than one residence address at the same time, whether such registrations are in Virginia or in Virginia and any other state or territory of the United States … is guilty of a Class 6 felony.” ( Va. Code. Ann. Section 24.2-1004 (C) ).

While Pete Olson resided in Virginia and participated in Virginia elections, he owned property in Connecticut and remained active on the Connecticut voter rolls through at least March 2005. Pete Olson’s presence on the 2003 Connecticut voter rolls and his vote in Newtown, Connecticut , which was followed by his vote in the 2003 Virginia General Election, appears to violate Virginia election law.

Pete Olson’s questionable Connecticut vote and the legal fallout spell trouble for him on at least two fronts:

* Olson’s voter fraud controversy reinforces the impression in voters’ minds that he is an opportunistic out-of-stater with stronger ties to Yankee New England than the Houston, Texas, Bay Area. Also, it adds to the long list of scandals involving Houston area Republicans ranging from voter impropriety to outright theft .
* After spending the entire 2006 election cycle caught up in the drama of Tom DeLay’s legal problems and his shameful retreat from Texas, District 22 voters have seen Nick Lampson build a moderate to conservative voting record while working diligently and effectively on their behalf. They may not be anxious to invite in the type of partisanship and legal drama that an Olson election might bring.

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