politics

On Reddit, a user with the account name “ManCow2000” replied to a post in the r/WorkAdvice subreddit and said he was a property manager. In his comment, he said that he filled out four ballots that were mailed to tenants who had moved and had yet to update their voting address.

“PS: I am a property manager. I got four mail in voting forms … people who didn’t send in a change of address I guess,” the comment said. “I voted all four of them. NO on rent control. NO on school bonds. and … Trump baby,” adding: “… I follow the Chicago rule for voting: vote early — vote often.”

The user also said he voted for former President Donald Trump with his own ballot, and filled out his wife’s ballot to vote for Trump as well, bringing his total to six votes.

Last week, KCRC-TV — a station in Redding — reported that other Reddit users searched ManCow2000’s post and comment histories and were able to identify him as Charles Pierce of Redding. The outlet also reported that users forwarded Pierce’s claims to the FBI.

Shasta County Registrar of Voters Tom Toller told SFGATE he had been made aware of Pierce’s comments and forwarded them to the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office.

“A review of that social media posting provided sufficient detail for my staff to take the claim seriously,” he said in an email. “Election fraud of this type, voting more than one ballot, is particularly insidious because it dilutes the vote of every other registered voter in our county who votes one ballot according to the law. We referred this matter to the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office for investigation of a possible criminal violation of California Election Code section 18500.”

Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett confirmed to KCRC that her office is investigating Pierce’s claims.

“Every election, my office receives, from the Registrar of Voters, allegations of voter fraud. We look into each, often resulting in educating those involved in the election process on the resources available to them to ensure compliance with the law,” Bridgett told the outlet. “We also, in appropriate cases, file criminal charges for violation of the elections code. The registrar of voters has referred the allegations against Charles Pierce to my office.”

Bridgett did not immediately reply to a request for updates sent by SFGATE.

On Friday, KNVN-TV reported that Pierce had told the outlet that he had been fired from his job at the Manzanita Manor Apartments in Redding over his Reddit comment. He also said he “did not engage in any illegal activities,” claiming that his post was hyperbole.

“He says the situation has been ‘blown out of proportion’ and is ‘so bogus,’” the outlet reported.

Attempts by SFGATE to reach Pierce were unsuccessful, and his Reddit account has been deleted. A voicemail left at the Manzanita Manor Apartments was not immediately returned.

If Pierce did fill out four additional ballots to vote against California Propositions 2 (school bonds) and 33 (rent control), and to vote for Trump, it would be a federal crime.

“If the investigation substantiates that election fraud did occur, a further referral will be made to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, since voting more than once is also a violation of 42 U.S.C. 1973i(3),” Toller said. “The latter is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, underlining just how serious the allegation of election fraud is.”