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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2002

Evidence of voter fraud among Native Americans in South Dakota is being linked to a former Democratic party worker.

Attorney general Mark Barnett said Becky Red Earth-Villeda is tied to at least 15 false absentee ballot applications. A total of 25 counties are being examined.

According to Barnett, the applications are deemed bogus because investigators talked to the person whose name appears on the ballot. "We have interviewed 15 people so far who said, 'That is not my signature.' You have to go out and grind it," he said, as reported by The Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

The probe has drawn interested due to its potential impact on the Senate race between incumbent Tim Johnson (D) and Congressman John Thune (R).

Get the Story:
15 false absentee ballot applications found (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 10/25)
Duplicate voter records found (The Rapid City Journal 10/25)
Thune, Johnson battle over ads, issues (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 10/25)
Blame game marks final debate (AP 10/25)

Relevant Links:
Attorney General South Dakota - http://www.state.sd.us/attorney/index.htm

Related Stories:
Charges fly in S.D. Indian voter dispute (10/24)
Opinion: Don't let illiterate Indians vote (10/23)
All eyes on South Dakota for votes (10/22)
Charges of Indian voter fraud denied (10/18)
Editorial: Investigate voter fraud (10/18)
S.D. voter fraud probe continues (10/17)
'More and more' cases of voter fraud (10/16)
Thune: S.D. vote challenge not my idea (10/16)
Problems cited with Indian voter drive (10/15)
Native voters said key in S.D. races (09/02)