Multiple Ballots, Same Handwriting Convicts Woman of Voter Fraud (+video)

Melowese Richardson, 58, of Madisonville pleaded no contest to four counts of illegal voting – including voting three times for a relative who has been in a coma since 2003 – in exchange for prosecutors dropping four other illegal voting charges. Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Ruehlman immediately convicted her, making her a felon.

A poll worker from 1998 until being fired this year, Richardson admitted she voted illegally in the 2008, 2011 and 2012 elections.

Richardson, who was in court last week but asked to speak to her pastor before she agreed to be convicted rather than take the case to trial, was quiet during the hearing.

Her penmanship and familiarity led to her conviction.

“They noticed a bunch of absentee ballots coming from the same place with the same handwriting,” Assistant Prosecutor Bill Anderson said. Other Board of Elections workers then recognized Richardson’s handwriting.

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