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Calif. Secretary Of State Investigates Dornan Election

dornan

LOS ANGELES (AllPolitics, Dec. 20) -- California Rep. Bob Dornan's claims of voter fraud, on which he blames his congressional defeat last month, may be gaining new legitimacy as three state and local agencies have initiated investigations into the charges.

The outspoken Republican lost his bid to retain his 46th congressional district seat to Democratic challenger Loretta Sanchez by 984 votes. Dornan attributes the loss to absentee and provisional ballot fraud, non-citizen voting and insecurely handled ballot boxes, and he's demanded an investigation.

California's Secretary of State Bill Jones began a probe of those charges earlier this month and now the Orange County district attorney has done the same. Neither would say what issues they are focusing on.

And a recount, financed by Dornan and conducted by the county's Registrar of Voters Rosalyn Lever, is nearing completion. Already election workers have identified 126 absentee ballots that were submitted improperly and another 340 unaccounted-for ballots.

The registrar is also reviewing documents the Dornan camp calls evidence of 2,500 people improperly voting.

Dornan's lawyer Michael Schroder said the investigations "vindicate what Bob Dornan has been saying from the beginning -- that what occurred during the election for 46th Congressional District is highly questionable."

Not content to leave all the footwork to government officials, Dornan has hired a private firm to examine county records. He also has enlisted Spanish-speaking people to search out illegal voters in district neighborhoods.

Dornan hopes that if enough irregularities are found, officials will either nullify the Nov. 5 election, or Declare him the winner.


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