Colorado’s election integrity faces scrutiny as two women, including a USPS mail carrier, are charged with tampering mail-in ballots for the 2024 election.
At a Glance
- USPS mail carrier Vicki Lyn Stuart and Sally Jane Maxedon arrested for allegedly forging stolen mail ballots in Colorado
- At least 12 stolen ballots identified, with three fraudulent votes counted in a recent election
- Investigation ongoing with over 20 potential victims of ballot theft
- Incident seen as proof of effectiveness of election security measures by Mesa County officials
Mail-in Ballot Tampering Scheme Uncovered
Colorado’s election system has been rocked by allegations of mail-in ballot tampering, as two women face charges for their involvement in a scheme that has compromised the integrity of the state’s electoral process. Vicki Lyn Stuart, a USPS mail carrier, and Sally Jane Maxedon have been arrested and charged with multiple felonies related to the theft and forgery of mail-in ballots ahead of the 2024 election.
The investigation began on October 21 when the 21st District Attorney’s Office received complaints from Mesa County residents about missing mail-in ballots and signature mismatches. Authorities discovered that ballots had vanished from mailbox clusters without signs of forced entry, suggesting an inside job. This revelation led to a deeper probe into the integrity of Colorado’s primarily mail-based voting system.
Alleged Scheme Details
According to court documents, Stuart allegedly marked ballots as “return to sender” if names didn’t match mailboxes, violating USPS protocol. Maxedon initially admitted to completing ballots that weren’t hers and later confessed to a scheme with Stuart to test the signature verification process. The pair’s actions have resulted in at least 16 identified victims, with potentially more affected.
“A postal worker and her friend were arrested Wednesday in connection with the forging of stolen mail ballots in an alleged attempt to test the security of Colorado’s voting system, according to court documents.” – Source
The severity of the situation became clear when it was revealed that nine ballots were removed due to fraud, but three fraudulent votes had already been processed and counted in a recent election. This breach has raised serious concerns about the security of mail-in voting and the potential for undetected fraud.
Impact on Election Integrity
The incident has sparked a heated debate about the reliability of mail-in voting systems. Colorado, which primarily uses mail voting, has long touted its system as safe and convenient, with signature verification as a key safeguard. However, this case has exposed vulnerabilities that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
“Once signatures are checked, the ballot is pulled independently from the envelope and it’s put into the (counting) process” – Source
Mesa County officials, however, view this incident as proof of the effectiveness of their election security measures. Bobbie Gross, a county official, stated, “I am deeply grateful for the diligence and thorough efforts of the District Attorney’s Office in addressing this matter. I am proud our security measures are effective, and we will remain vigilant to safeguard the integrity of our elections.”
Legal Consequences and Ongoing Investigation
Both Stuart and Maxedon now face serious legal consequences. They have been charged with multiple felonies, including forgery, identity theft, and attempting to influence a public servant. Stuart has been placed on “emergency, non-duty status” by USPS pending the outcome of the investigation.
“In a statement, the office of 21st District Attorney Dan Rubinstein said its investigators began a probe on Oct. 21 after residents who never submitted a ballot or ever received a ballot in the mail were notified that their ballots were not being counted because of discrepancies with their signatures.” – Source
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to identify all potential victims and assess the full extent of the fraud. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in maintaining election integrity and the need for constant vigilance in protecting the democratic process.
Sources:
- Colorado postal carrier and friend forged stolen mail ballots to ‘test’ voting security, officials say
- USPS mail carrier, another Colorado resident accused of submitting stolen ballots, some of which counted
