Look into possible vote fraud expanding

David Kranz - Argus Leader - 10/9/2004

Republican Vote Fraud Being Investigated in Daschle/Thune Race

State reviews notarizing in absentee registration

An investigation into possible absentee ballot irregularities in Brookings County soon might expand to other counties, Secretary of State Chris Nelson said Friday.

[...] Finding the truth behind reports of problems with absentee vote applications is getting more complicated as questions surface in new areas, Nelson said.

The Division of Criminal Investigation began checking reports in Brookings County after Nelson asked Clyde Calhoon, the county state's attorney, to investigate Jeff Thune, who had set up a table at South Dakota State University to secure absentee ballot applications.

Reports had been received that Thune, nephew of Republican Senate candidate John Thune, possibly wasn't notarizing the applications in the presence of the applicants, as required by state law.

Also, Jeff Thune is not a certified notary public, according to the secretary of state's Web site.

During a news conference Friday in Sioux Falls, Nelson said he is looking into reports of problems in Yankton and Clay counties as well.

In all three counties, there have been reports of young men on college campuses seeking signers for absentee ballot applications for the Nov. 2 election.

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