In a shocking case of voter fraud, Kim Phuong Taylor, the wife of an Iowa county supervisor, has been found guilty of 52 counts of voter fraud. The scheme was designed to assist her husband, Jeremy Taylor, in securing the Republican nomination to run for Congress in 2020. The couple’s plan involved ballot stuffing and fraudulent voting to gain an unfair advantage in the election.
Kim Phuong Taylor, a Vietnam native, targeted voters of Vietnamese heritage who had limited English comprehension. She approached them and filled out and signed election forms and ballots on their behalf, as well as on behalf of their English-speaking children. Prosecutors revealed that she submitted numerous voter registrations, absentee ballot request forms, and absentee ballots containing false information.
Not only did Kim Phuong Taylor complete and sign voter forms without the voters’ permission, but she also instructed others to sign on behalf of absent relatives. This deceitful tactic aimed to undermine the electoral process and manipulate the outcome in favor of her husband’s campaign.
The fraudulent activity came to light when two Iowa State University students from Sioux City requested absentee ballots in September 2020, only to discover that ballots had already been cast in their names. Woodbury County election officials became aware of the possible voter fraud and allowed the students to withdraw those ballots and cast their own. However, the county auditor, Pat Gill, held onto the fraudulent ballots for further investigation.
During the processing of absentee ballots, election workers noticed that the handwriting on several of them appeared similar, raising suspicions of foul play. They promptly reported this to Pat Gill. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Evans, who was involved in prosecuting the case, stated that most voter fraud cases typically involve one voter casting a single ballot in someone else’s name. However, in this instance, Kim Phuong Taylor’s actions were far more extensive, with her voting dozens of times for multiple individuals.
Voter fraud is a serious crime that undermines the democratic process and erodes public trust in elections. While rare, cases like these must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held accountable. The conviction of Kim Phuong Taylor sends a strong message that such illegal activities will not be tolerated.
Kim Phuong Taylor now faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of voter fraud. Her actions not only impacted the integrity of the election but also tarnished public confidence in the democratic system. It is crucial that measures are taken to ensure the security and fairness of future elections.
This case serves as a reminder that vigilance against voter fraud is essential, and efforts to safeguard the electoral process must remain a priority.
