D.A. charges three election workers with voter fraud

D.A. charges three election workers with voter fraud
Charles Mostoller

Prosecutors announced Wednesday charges against three election officials accused of violating the laws inside the polling places they supervised.

The charges stem from incidents during the May 19 primary and from the May 20, 2014 primary one year prior.

Robin Trainor, the judge of a 33rd Ward 5th Division polling place at Castor Avenue and Cayuga Street, admitted to prosecutors that she went into the booth with her husband to tell him who to vote forand then voted for her son,who was absent.

Laura Murtaugh, the Minority Elections Inspector at the same polling place, allowed Trainorto write a false signature on the Election District Register.

Also charged was Cheryl Ali, a voting machine inspector who served at the 36th Ward 8th Division polling place. Ali was investigated on May 20, 2014 and admitted that after casting her own vote, she voted for her mother, who was ill.

Trainor,Murtaughand Ali are now charged with multiple election fraud charges and all turned themselves in Wednesday, the D.A.’s office said.

“I continue to be outraged that our election officials, after they clearly know the rules, think that they can just walk into the voting booth and vote multiple times or vote as someone else,” D.A. Seth Williams said in a statement.