Turning Point leader, former GOP Rep pleads guilty to attempted election fraud | Arizona Mirror
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Austin Smith election fraud guilty plea: Former GOP Rep admits forging 100+ signatures on ballot petitions in Arizona

Former Republican state legislator Austin Smith pleaded guilty Monday to what he previously called “ludicrous” charges that he personally forged more than 100 signatures on his petitions for reelection last year.

  • ORbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2·
    3 months ago

    Smith pleaded guilty to the reduced charges as part of a plea agreement that gives him the possibility of avoiding a felony conviction. In Arizona law, when a person without a criminal history is found guilty of a low-level felony, the judge can wait until that person’s probation is finished before designating the crime a felony or misdemeanor. Essentially, that means if Smith completes any probation he’s sentenced to without violations, his conviction could be classified a misdemeanor instead of a felony.

    And that’s important, because felons in Arizona can’t vote or hold elected office unless their rights are restored by a judge.

    Fuck this. He should not be able to see a ballot again in his life.

    • davad@lemmy.world
      0·
      3 months ago

      I think disenfranchising anyone is immoral and counterproductive to a thriving democracy.

      But someone who attempted to commit voter fraud should be banned from any position of public trust. Ban him from public office, from the election board, etc. Don’t even let him volunteer as a poll worker.

      • ORbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        Normally, I agree with that stance. However, in attempting to subvert an election, he stands to disenfranchise hundreds if not thousands of peoples’ votes. You’re more correct, but I hate the idea of someone like this getting the ability to vote for more people like him into power after he’s already done something so egregious.

        Anyway, I don’t disagree with your position, just that this dick weasel is anathema to free and fair elections.

      • mos@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        I’m not sure I have a strong opinion for disenfranchising voters, since I believe everyone deserves a right to vote, but there has to be a point at which someone forfeits their own ability to vote? I think cheating the system (and by proxy, other voters) might be a good case for that.

        • Whostosay@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          3 months ago

          Especially with the intent to cause the amount of destruction that has already been carried out that was known when the crime occurred