Conservative Activists Hit With Voter Fraud Charges in Election Stunt - Newsweek

Two conservative activists who filmed themselves at Minnesota polling places during the state's August primary have been charged with unlawful voting and identity theft, both felonies.

James O'Keefe and Cam Higby are accused of using the names of registered voters without permission during what they described as a test of Minnesota’s voter-vouching process. They did not sign the required oath or receive ballots, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who announced the charges on October 28.

With midterm elections less than a week away, concerns over alleged voter fraud have increased on the federal level, with the Trump administration offering $1 million to anyone who reports a case of voter fraud that leads to a conviction.

Newsweek has contacted O'Keefe, Higby, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon for comment by email outside regular working hours.

Moriarty accused the pair of entering polling places during the August 11 primary and identifying themselves using the names of registered voters in those precincts without the voters' knowledge or permission.

"Both men stopped short of signing the oath we all sign before receiving our ballot," she said. "But Minnesota law states clearly that no individual shall intentionally misrepresent their identity in applying for a ballot."

The charges focus on the men's alleged conduct while applying for ballots. Although neither signed the oath or cast a ballot, prosecutors say they intentionally misrepresented their identities during the process.

Minnesota allows a registered voter from the same precinct to confirm the residence of an eligible person registering to vote on Election Day. A registered voter can vouch for up to eight people. The person registering must still attest to their own identity and eligibility and provide identifying information.

The process can help eligible voters who recently moved and lack identification showing their new address. It can also help voters who need to update their registration. It does not allow anyone to use another voter's identity.

The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State said fewer than 0.6 percent of votes cast in the state's 2024 general election used vouching. About 71 percent of those voters were already registered but needed to update their name or address.

The videos, posted in August, showed O'Keefe and Higby visiting polling places in disguises and using accents while asking election workers about vouching. Higby wrote in the caption of one video, "I dressed as a Muslim woman and Minneapolis poll workers were prepared to allow me and an army of other foreigners to fraudulently vote without verifying who any of us are."

After the videos became public, Simon said in an August 14 news release that the group's "apparent goal was to cast doubt on one or more Minnesota election laws that have been in force for over 50 years. Instead, they revealed their ignorance of how those laws actually work—while putting themselves in legal jeopardy."

"The misconduct by this group is outrageous and totally unacceptable," Simon added. "We have zero tolerance for lying, lawbreaking, and disruptions at our polling places."

In an August 13 post accompanying the video, O'Keefe Media Group said the operation was intended to test Minnesota's vouching rules and document how election workers applied them. That explanation came before the charges were announced and reflects the group's stated purpose.

Higby also denied casting a ballot before the October 28 charges were filed. During an August 15 livestream responding to Simon's statement, he said, "I didn't actually vote," and described the visits as a test of the system.

O'Keefe is known for founding Project Veritas, a conservative group that seeks to investigate corruption, and has been known to use hidden cameras. He left the organization in 2023 and later established O'Keefe Media Group.

Higby is a conservative commentator who has posted videos and commentary about election rules and other political issues. The Minnesota polling place operation brought the two men together to film what they described as a test of the state's election procedures.

Both men were charged by summons and are scheduled to appear in court on November 16. Neither has entered a plea.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Shakeema Edwards.