An Indianola man has been charged with election fraud.
Jason Allen Rawlin, 37, was charged with election fraud, a Class D felony, and fraudulent practices, an aggravated misdemeanor, following an investigation by the Division of Criminal Investigation.
According to criminal complaints, Rawlin is a felon and had registered to vote while obtaining a driver’s license with the Warren County Treasurer’s Office.
http://liarcatchers.com/fraud_investigation.html
Under Iowa law, those convicted of a felony are ineligible to vote while incarcerated, on parole or on probation. After their sentence is complete, felons also must pay all outstanding monetary obligations to the court before applying to have their voting rights restored.
Investigators said Rawlin had multiple felony convictions in Wapello County.
During an interview with a DCI agent, Rawlin stated that he underwent a name change when he recently was married. Rawlin acknowledged that he was a felon, but stated that he believed his rights were restored upon release from prison after a 2001 conviction.
Rawlin also reportedly told the agent that there should be signage posted within the licensing station to let people know if they can or can’t vote. The DCI agent told Rawlin there was an instruction notice posted to the digital key pad. Rawlin reportedly replied that he was busy, there was a line of people behind him, and he signed it so he could leave.
Rawlin was arrested by the Indianola Police Department and was released on bail.
The charges are the latest in an effort to find voter fraud across Iowa. A DCI investigator has been assigned to help the secretary of state’s office investigate voter registrations.
Stacy Brown, 37, of Kanawha also was charged with election fraud last week. She was convicted in Hancock County and registered to vote in Hancock County through the Wright County Issuance Station. She turned herself in to law enforcement last week and was released on her own recognizance.
Three other people were charged with election fraud on Sept. 21 in Pottawattamie County.
