« AZ: 6,000 new cages | Main | Dallas PA: Residents-Build New Prison Elseware »
June 21, 2007
WI: Voter Fraud Conviction of Woman Who Cast Illegal Absentee Ballot is Upheld
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=620108
Voter fraud conviction upheld
Posted: June 14, 2007
In a 3-0 decision, a federal appeals court Thursday upheld the voter fraud conviction of Kimberly Prude, the Milwaukee grandmother of three who cast an illegal absentee ballot in the 2004 election.
The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago rejected claims made by Prude's defense team that key testimony from the chief inspector at a polling location where Prude worked on election day should have been omitted from the jury trial.
The court also rejected a claim that the jury was not instructed adequately on the theory of Prude's defense as well as claims that Prude was denied the chance to introduce testimony about procedures to withdraw a vote.
Prude, a felon under state supervision, was ineligible to vote in 2004. She worked as a volunteer for the John Kerry-John Edwards campaign and cast an absentee ballot after an Oct. 22, 2004 rally that featured Rev. Al Sharpton. Prude claimed she called the election commission and attempted to withdraw her ballot but was told by a person on the telephone that she should not be worried about the vote.
In 2005, a jury convicted Prude of voter fraud and her probation was revoked. Prude had previously pleaded guilty to a state charge of forgery in 2000.
Prude is serving her sentence at the Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center in Union Grove. She is expected to be released in the autumn.
- Bill Glauber
Posted by lois at June 21, 2007 11:18 PM