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An investigation is currently underway in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, into approximately 2,500 voter registration forms suspected of containing fraudulent information. The forms, which were submitted shortly before the state's voter registration deadline, were flagged by county officials due to issues such as incorrect addresses and signatures that did not match the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors.
The Lancaster County Elections Board noted that the forms appeared to be part of an organized effort. Some of the forms contained false names, suspicious handwriting, and other problematic details. The majority of the forms were for residents in the City of Lancaster, but applications were also received for residents in other areas.
Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams, an elected Republican, stated at a news conference, "It appears to be an organized effort at this point. But of course, it's an ongoing investigation. And we'll be looking into who exactly participated in it and how far up it goes." Adams told WHYY.org.
The forms have been segregated during the investigation, preventing ballots from being sent to or cast by people until they are deemed valid. Of the applications that have been examined so far, 60% were found to be fraudulent, according to WGAL.com. The remainder of the applications are still under review.
The Pennsylvania Department of State issued a statement praising the elections workers for their diligent work in spotting this potential fraud and bringing it to the attention of law enforcement. The Department also encouraged any residents who recently registered to vote to check their voter registration online to ensure its accuracy.