Trending
ELKINS -- A former Randolph County resident has pleaded guilty to voting in both West Virginia and New Mexico in the 2020 General Election, officials said.
Jon Cooper entered a guilty plea to illegal voting in Randolph County Circuit Court. Judge David Wilmoth denied Cooper's request for deferred adjudication and ordered Cooper to pay a $500 fine.
West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner said Cooper used absentee ballots to vote in the two states in the same election.
"I have been dedicated to uncovering and prosecuting election fraud since taking office in 2017. If anyone attempts to cheat in a West Virginia election or commit voter fraud in any way, we will catch you," Warner said. "West Virginia uses state-of-the-art technology and the best-trained elections staff in the country to make sure that our elections are secure."
The case was handled by Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker, and the investigation was conducted by Investigator Elise Guice of the Attorney General's Office, at the direction of the Secretary of State's Investigation Division Director Kimberly Mason.
"We must always be vigilant in guarding the integrity of our elections," Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said. "Elections are key to a well-functioning democracy. Let this be a lesson to those who are contemplating on cheating: you will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Cooper's guilty plea is the second to be entered this year for illegal voting in the 2020 election, Warner said.
Warner added that Cooper's conviction will serve as a deterrent to those who would consider committing similar criminal acts in the 2024 election.
While the penalty for illegal voting in West Virginia was still a misdemeanor at the time of Cooper's crime, in 2022, the West Virginia Legislature passed legislation that changed the punishment for illegal voting to a felony crime.
To report a possible election violation or voter fraud, call toll-free at 877-FRAUD-WV or text "WV" to 45995 to complete a mobile complaint form from our office.
For more information about the election process in West Virginia, go to the WV Secretary of State's secure website at GoVoteWV.com.