Voter Fraud Convictions in Washington, 2016-2020
Return to the Voter Fraud Convictions Summary Chart
| A. Conviction Details | B. Background | C. Potential Election Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Election Year: 2020 Name: Dennis Elmer Herron Party Affiliation: Party affiliation is not tracked in Washington[1]According to Asotin County Auditor Darla McKay in a 3/8/2021 email, voters “do not provide party affiliation when they register to vote in WA State. There is no option for that on our voter … Continue reading Offense and Sentencing: Dennis Elmer Herron pleaded guilty on 3/3/2021 to charges relating to illegally signing his wife’s ballot during the 2020 presidential election cycle.[2]Washington Courts, Odyssey Portal, “20-1-01069-21 | STATE OF WASHINGTON vs DENNIS ELMER HERRON,” odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov, accessed December 13, 2022[3]The Chronicle, “Randle Man Charged for Filling Out Wife’s Ballot in 2020 Election,” chronicle.com, January 21, 2022 Herron was sentenced on the same day to $600 in fines and fees.[4]Washington Courts, Odyssey Portal, “20-1-01069-21 | STATE OF WASHINGTON vs DENNIS ELMER HERRON,” odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov, accessed December 13, 2022 | “A 77-year-old man is facing Class C felony charges for signing his wife’s ballot in the 2020 presidential election. Dennis E. Herron, of Randle, allegedly told investigators that he filled out his wife’s ballot and signed her signature ‘because he knew how she would have wanted to vote,’ according to Lewis County Superior Court documents. The auditor’s office initially reported the ballot because the signature did not match that of Herron’s wife.”[5]The Chronicle, “Randle Man Charged for Filling Out Wife’s Ballot in 2020 Election,” chronicle.com, January 21, 2022 Case Notes: State of Washington v. Dennis Elmer Herron Case Number: 20-1-01069-21 Court Records | Type of Election: Presidential Party Affiliation: Not Found Theoretical Election Effect: 1 illegal vote, party unknown |
| 2. | Election Year: 2016 Name: Christopher P. Billups Party Affiliation: Party affiliation is not tracked in Washington[6]According to Asotin County Auditor Darla McKay in a 3/8/2021 email, voters “do not provide party affiliation when they register to vote in WA State. There is no option for that on our voter … Continue reading Offense and Sentencing: Christopher P. Billups pleaded guilty on 5/15/2017 to one gross misdemeanor charge of false swearing in relation to offenses committed on November 1, 2016.[7]Superior Court of Washington for Asotin County, The State of Washington v. Christopher P. Billups, Case Number: 16-1-00202-02 – Information, Judgement, and Sentence The charge was reduced from a felony charge of voter fraud as part of a plea agreement.[8]Superior Court of Washington for Asotin County, The State of Washington v. Christopher P. Billups, Case Number: 16-1-00202-02 – Information, Judgement, and Sentence Billups was sentenced on the same day to 364 days imprisonment, suspended for 364 days, 12 months of unsupervised probation, and a fine plus associated fees totaling $2,490.[9]Superior Court of Washington for Asotin County, The State of Washington v. Christopher P. Billups, Case Number: 16-1-00202-02 – Information, Judgement, and Sentence | “A Lapwai man was ordered to pay $2,490 in fines and fees for allegedly making a false statement under oath during the November election. Christopher P. Billups, 62, originally was charged with voter fraud for allegedly attempting to vote twice in the general election. He entered into a plea agreement on a reduced charge and was sentenced this week … According to court documents, Billups reportedly returned his Washington state ballot Nov. 1 and voted in person at Lapwai City Hall [Idaho] on Nov. 8.”[10]Lewiston Tribune Online, “Lapwai Man Ordered to Pay Fine in Voter Fraud,” lmtribune.com, May 17, 2017 Case Notes: The State of Washington v. Christopher P. Billups Case Number: 16-1-00202-02 Information, Judgement, and Sentence | Type of Election: Presidential Party Affiliation: Not Found Theoretical Election Effect: 1 illegal vote, party unknown |
| 3. | Election Year: 2016 Name: Donald L. Woodward Party Affiliation: Party affiliation is not tracked in Washington[11]According to Asotin County Auditor Darla McKay in a 3/8/2021 email, voters “do not provide party affiliation when they register to vote in WA State. There is no option for that on our voter … Continue reading Offense and Sentencing: Donald L. Woodward pleaded guilty on 1/23/2017 to one gross misdemeanor charge of false swearing in relation to an offense committed on October 22, 2016.[12]Superior Court of Washington for Asotin County, The State of Washington v. Donald L. Woodward, Case Number: 16-1-00223-02 – Information, Evidence, Judgement, and Sentence The charge was reduced from a felony charge of perjury in the second degree as part of a plea agreement.[13]Superior Court of Washington for Asotin County, The State of Washington v. Donald L. Woodward, Case Number: 16-1-00223-02 – Information, Evidence, Judgement, and Sentence Woodward was sentenced on the same day to 180 days imprisonment, suspended for 180 days, 12 months of unsupervised probation, and a fine plus associated fees totaling $740.[14]Superior Court of Washington for Asotin County, The State of Washington v. Donald L. Woodward, Case Number: 16-1-00223-02 – Information, Evidence, Judgement, and Sentence | “Donald R. Woodward is facing one felony count of second-degree perjury … The potential voter-fraud incident was discovered during canvassing in November [2016]. Auditor Darla McKay was scanning election envelopes to verify signatures when Carissa Woodward’s name appeared with a notification that her voter registration had been canceled,… Carissa Woodward died Oct. 22, the day ballots appeared in mailboxes, according to court documents. However, the ballot mailed to her was signed Oct. 19.”[15]Chelsea Embree, “Man Charged with Voting in Wife’s Stead,” lmtribune.com, December 31, 2016 Case Notes: The State of Washington v. Donald L. Woodward Case Number: 16-1-00223-02 Information, Evidence, Judgement, and Sentence | Type of Election: Presidential Party Affiliation: Not Found Theoretical Election Effect: 1 illegal vote, party unknown |
References
| ↑1 | According to Asotin County Auditor Darla McKay in a 3/8/2021 email, voters “do not provide party affiliation when they register to vote in WA State. There is no option for that on our voter registration form.” |
|---|---|
| ↑2, ↑4 | Washington Courts, Odyssey Portal, “20-1-01069-21 | STATE OF WASHINGTON vs DENNIS ELMER HERRON,” odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov, accessed December 13, 2022 |
| ↑3, ↑5 | The Chronicle, “Randle Man Charged for Filling Out Wife’s Ballot in 2020 Election,” chronicle.com, January 21, 2022 |
| ↑6, ↑11 | According to Asotin County Auditor Darla McKay in a 3/8/2021 email, voters “do not provide party affiliation when they register to vote in WA State. There is no option for that on our voter registration form.” |
| ↑7, ↑8, ↑9 | Superior Court of Washington for Asotin County, The State of Washington v. Christopher P. Billups, Case Number: 16-1-00202-02 – Information, Judgement, and Sentence |
| ↑10 | Lewiston Tribune Online, “Lapwai Man Ordered to Pay Fine in Voter Fraud,” lmtribune.com, May 17, 2017 |
| ↑12, ↑13, ↑14 | Superior Court of Washington for Asotin County, The State of Washington v. Donald L. Woodward, Case Number: 16-1-00223-02 – Information, Evidence, Judgement, and Sentence |
| ↑15 | Chelsea Embree, “Man Charged with Voting in Wife’s Stead,” lmtribune.com, December 31, 2016 |