Fraud reported on voter listings

Kirsten Searer

Friday, July 9, 2004 | 9 a.m.

The Clark County Elections Department is warning residents that some people are forging voter registration documents this election season.

Many political groups are paying people to register new voters, Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said.

But his office has received complaints from people who received new voter registration cards when they didn't register to vote, he said.

Also, he said, some people have complained that they have been approached to register to vote and, when they reply that they are already registered, the person tells them it's OK to register again.

"They tell them to put a different address or change letters in their name," Lomax said.

Typically it's difficult to catch the offenders because they turn in many sheets of new voter registration cards.

"Every now and then we'll get a whole stack of forms that get identical handwriting," he said. "People who are a little smarter can mix up fraudulent forms with real forms."

Nevada law bans groups from paying people by the number of voter applications they collect because it creates a temptation to forge registration forms and receive more money, he said.

People should be aware if they mistakenly receive a new voter registration card or are asked to re-register, Lomax said. A glut of fraudulent applications could mar the elections system in November, he said.