By Fatma Younis
Two conservative influencers, James O'Keefe and Cam Higby, have been charged with felony counts of unlawful voting and identity theft after they gave false names to poll workers during Minnesota's Aug. 11 primary election, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Wednesday.
Charges Filed After Poll Workers Flag Suspicious Behavior
The men recorded their interactions for a video while wearing costumes and using the names of registered voters without permission to initiate the state's "vouching" process, which allows unregistered voters to register and vote after signing an oath of eligibility. Poll workers noticed the unusual conduct and reported it to election officials, who asked police to investigate.
Costumes and False Identities Used to Test Vouching System
O'Keefe, 42, of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Higby, 26, of Covington, Washington, stopped short of signing the required oath, but prosecutors said providing false names and starting the process was sufficient for felony charges. O'Keefe's organization, O'Keefe Media Group, said the stunt was designed to expose what they view as flaws in Minnesota's vouching rules.
Vouching Process Rarely Used, Experts Say
Minnesota's vouching process accounted for fewer than 0.6% of votes in the 2024 general election. Election experts say there is no evidence of widespread fraud through vouching, but recent attempts to test the system have raised concerns about potential misuse. Voter identification laws vary by state; Minnesota allows registered voters to vouch for others in the same precinct.
