The State Board of Elections is cooperating with the ongoing investigation of an alleged voter fraud case in Rockingham County, according to a statement from the secretary of the State Board of Elections, Donald Palmer, released on Tuesday.
“Pursuant to state law, violations of election laws are investigated and prosecuted at the local level unless additional support or resources from the Attorney General are indicated. At this time, the Commonwealth’s Attorney has not indicated a need for assistance on the state level,” Palmer said.
A voting-registration supervisor contracted by the Republican Party of Virginia has been arrested in the case, which involves the discovery of registration forms found in a dumpster outside a Harrisonburg business.
Colin Small, 31, of Phoenixville, Pa., faces four counts of destruction of voter-registration applications, eight counts of disclosure of voter-registration applications, and one count of obstruction of justice, according to the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.
Small is a voter-registration supervisor employed by Pinpoint, an independent private organization contracted by the Republican Party of Virginia for purposes of general voter registration.
The sheriff’s office investigation began on Oct. 15 when law enforcement received a citizen complaint of voter registration application forms being found in a dumpster behind a business in the City of Harrisonburg.
The investigation is still ongoing, and additional charges are possible, according to the sheriff’s office.
With the in-person absentee voting period and General Election preparations ongoing, the State Board of Elections will continue to monitor the situation while local law enforcement officials continue their prosecution of the alleged perpetrator.
SBE staff has communicated with the local law enforcement authorities and have requested that the board be made aware of any facts that lead investigators to conclude that this was more than an isolated incident.
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