Once again, the St. Louis Board of Elections appears to be doing a fine job maintaining live streaming election results.

CLICK HERE to see today’s results as they come in.

The following press release is from the St. Louis City Election Board in response to today’s indictment of eight former ACORN workers on charges of voter registration fraud:

Earlier today, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of the State of Missouri, Catherine L. Hanaway, announced that eight former employees of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, were indicted in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on federal election violations. The indictments come approximately thirteen months after the City of St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners turned over to federal investigators, thousands of voter registration cards that had been submitted for processing to the Board by ACORN.

These voter registration cards contained fraudulent signatures, improper and inaccurate voter information, and duplicative and incorrect names. Included in the voter registration cards that were patently fraudulent was a voter registration card and signature attributed to a fifteen year old girl whose mother alerted the Board that no such card and signature had been completed.

“These voter registration cards were brazenly fraudulent, and we are pleased that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is taking steps to properly prosecute those who commit voter registration fraud,” stated Republican Director Scott Leiendecker.

“The Board will continue to vigorously investigate any and all allegations of election fraud and refer any incidents to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.”

Here’s our video report from October 2006:

UPDATE: More on the indictments from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

Eight voter registration workers, employed by The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), have been indicted on election fraud charges in connection with the November 2006 general election, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today.

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”) is a not-for-profit organization and during 2006 maintained and operated an office at 4304 Manchester Avenue in the City of St. Louis, in part to conduct a voter registration drive for the November 7, 2006 general election.

Project Vote is a not-for-profit organization that works with ACORN to register voters for federal and local elections. Project Vote funded ACORN in the 2006 voter registration drive.

“The allegations of Election Fraud announced today represent criminal activities which undermine the public’s confidence in government. This type of criminal activity should not be tolerated by citizens of the community,” said Hanaway. “We intend to investigate vigorously, and prosecute fully, any allegations of fraud in our election system.”

ACORN and Project Vote recruited and employed workers to obtain voter registrations in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County during 2006. The workers were trained and instructed by ACORN and Project Vote on how to obtain voter registrations and how to prepare voter registration applications, which included training and instruction that the actual voter must sign the voter application and that a forged signature is a violation of the law.

The indictment alleges that from July through October 2006, the eight defendants indicted today were employed by ACORN as voter registration workers to obtain voter registrations in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. They are charged with multiple counts of election fraud for submitting false voter registration applications to the St. Louis City and St. Louis County Board of Election Commissions falsely stating addresses, names and other information of the voters being registered, and which contained forged signatures of the purported applicants, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Sections 1973i(c) and 1973 gg-10, election fraud.

The indicted individuals are:

• BRIAN BLAND, St. Louis, Missouri
• BOBBIE JEAN CHEEKS, a/k/a Dorothy Jones and Bobbie Tobert, St. Louis, Missouri
• CORTEZ COWAN, St. Louis, Missouri
• GOLDEN GIBSON, St. Louis, Missouri
• RADONNA MARIE SMITH, St. Louis, Missouri
• ANTHONY M. RELIFORD, St. Louis, Missouri
• KENNETH DEMOND WILLIAMS, St. Louis, Missouri
• TYAIRA L. WILLIAMS, a/k/a Tootsie Roll, St. Louis, Missouri

If convicted, each count of 42 U.S.C. Section 1973i(c) carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and/or fines up to $ 10,000. Each count of 42 U.S.C. Section 1973gg-10 carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.

In discussions with the United States Attorney’s Office, ACORN has agreed to implement a plan to improve voter registration and quality control procedures. ACORN is planning to strengthen the system it has to monitor and address performance problems, and has agreed to meet with prosecutors to discuss how best to report possible illegal activity. ACORN has agreed that comprehensive training will be required of all quality control and management staff. ACORN has agreed to the creation of a General Counsel position to monitor ACORN programs, and who will communicate with local election officials to address problems. Further, ACORN has agreed to assign a 13-year ACORN veteran and Missouri Head Organizer to St. Louis full time to personally oversee any future voter registration drive.

“The FBI is committed to investigating all instances of election fraud to ensure the integrity of our democratic system,” said John Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, St. Louis.

Hanaway acknowledged the assistance of the St. Louis and St. Louis County Election Boards and commended the work performed on the case by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service and Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Within the next seven days, all City of St. Louis registered voters will receive a very important mailing from the City of St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners. The postcard-style mailing will include a permanent voter notification card, information about the respective voter’s registration, and important election information for 2008.

This “voter canvass” is mandatory, according to State law, and it provides each voter with an opportunity to ensure that he or she is properly registered under the correct name and at the correct address. In addition, under current State law, the voter notification card can be cut out and used as identification at the polling places when the voter requests a ballot.

As expected, State Rep. Fred Kratky has resigned.

According to an email obtained by PubDef.net, written from St. Louis City Elections Director Scott Leiendecker to the Governor’s Office, Kratky resigned “on or about Friday, June 29.”

We reported last week that Kratky, who resides in the City of St. Louis, had been making moves to try to ensure his wife, Michele, received the nomination to succeed him.

Leiendecker is concerned about the timing of the required special election and any additional cost to city taxpayers.

“I am asking at the request of the Chairman of the Board [of Elections] Carol Ann Wilson that if a special election is to be called prior to the August 2008 Election that it would be called on February 5, 2008,” wrote Leiendecker.

“At that time the City of St. Louis as well as the State of Missouri will already be holding an election set for the Presidential Preferential Primary. This combination will in fact save time and cost for the City of St. Louis Election Board as well as the city taxpayers,” he wrote.

Leiendecker estimates calling a special election anytime before that date could cost taxpayers approximately $50,000.

BREAKING NEWS — READ IT HERE FIRST

Nearly two years after the allegations were first made, the Circuit Attorney’s office filed charges today against the people alleged to have forged the signatures of 22nd Ward residents — some of them dead ones — in the failed attempt to recall Alderman Jeffery Boyd.

Petitioners Linda Rogers, Sebekhu Smith and Charles Keller now face felony election violations.

It was back in December 2005 that PubDef first reported that Boyd’s rivals, former Aldermen Kenny Jones and Jay Ozier, had failed in their attempt to remove Boyd from office. Their recall petition fell short of the required number of signatures after Election Board officials said they discovered that many of the signatures were “blatant” forgeries.

“It was evident by the St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners that those persons being charged today had in fact willfully misled us in their recall petition drive,” said Director of Elections Scott Leiendecker in a statement today.

Boyd, who was recently overwhelmingly re-elected, said that today’s charges are a long-awaited first step. “I think we’re close to justice and I think the people can feel a little more at ease that this did not go unnoticed,” he said.

But Boyd wonders if other indictments will follow.

“It’s always the little people that take the fall, but where did it all start?”

PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE

In the matter of whether the name of a candidate for alderman should be removed from the ballot less than two weeks before the election, the Election Board today opted to leave it up to to the courts.

As we reported yesterday, supporters of Alderman Frank Williamson (D-26th Ward) sent at letter to the Election Board claiming that his opponent in the March 6th primary, H. Lee Willis, was in violation of a state law which says no person’s name can appear on the ballot if he or she is in arrears for any unpaid city taxes on the last day of filing for the office. Willis confirmed to Pub Def that he did owe $786.41 in real estate taxes and $59.49 in personal property taxes to the City.

Mary Wheeler-Jones, the Democratic Director of Elections for the City, said that since it is so close to Election Day — and if the Board did remove Willis’ name from the ballot there would likely be a lawsuit filed and ultimately decided by the courts anyway — the Election Commissioners today decided to leave it up to Williamson to file a lawsuit to have a judge find that Willis does not meet the qualifications for the office.

When Pub Def reached Williamson by phone, he had not yet heard of the Commissioners’ decision. After we told him what happened he said he would have to discuss with his legal team his next course of action.

PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE

With Election Day just two weeks away, things are starting to get heated in the race for 26th Ward alderman. Allegations of criminal records, unpaid taxes, and dirty politics are being thrown around as the two candidates engage in a repeat of their 2003 contest.

It was in their last race that supporters of now-incumbent Frank Williamson first alleged that his opponent, H. Lee Willis, was a convicted felon who has pleaded guilty to passing bad checks, assaulting a police officer, and burglary. Just days before the 2003 primary election, a flier saying as much was distributed throughout the ward, and Williamson went on to defeat Willis by a 32-point margin.

And now, “they’re at it again,” said Willis.

The same allegations — plus a potentially damaging new one — are again being thrown around in the last few weeks before E-Day. Willis’ past run-ins with the law have once again become issues, as well as an issue with taxes that may threaten the validity of Willis’ candidacy.

Records provided to Pub Def outline a series of arrests and charges (many of which were quickly dismissed) between 1999 and 2002 and all of which Willis sat down with Pub Def to explain.

The most serious of the charges came from an April 3, 2000 incident in which, as Willis explains, involved a bad check written months before, without his knowledge, by his then-wife.

Willis said a plain-clothed officer came to his door and began questioning his young son without identifying himself. Seeing his son outside talking with a strange man, Willis said he reacted quickly and pulled his son inside. The officer, who still had not identified himself, according to Willis, tried to push his way inside the home. Willis said he pushed back and the next thing he knew the man was telling him he was under arrest for Assaulting a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Arrest.

Willis maintains that he was never convicted and never pleaded guilty to a felony. But records obtained by Pub Def show that he did plead guilty to that bad check-writing incident, a felony, and misdemeanor Assaulting an Officer.

Regardless, Willis says it is in the past and in no way a reflection of his character. He accused his opponent of trying to distract voters from the issues.

“I think that’s how they operate,” said Willis. “It’s just a continuation of the strong-arming [Alderman Williamson] started back in December.”

Back in December, Willis alleged that Williamson had contacted several of the business owners in the ward who are supporting the challenger and threatened them. Willis alleges that following his campaign kickoff event at Marion’s St. Louis Rib Co., Williamson “harassed and threatened” proprietor Marion Waters.

Weeks later, before an event scheduled at Eklectic Designz on Delmar, owner Bonita Richardson was quoted in a Willis press release as saying Williamson “both telephoned and came to the salon. Frank was quite forceful in his view that I shouldn’t allow Lee Willis to hold his event at my salon.”

Williamson denies that ever happened. He also denies having anything to do with putting out the information about Willis’ criminal record.

“I think it’s just a group of concerned citizens that feel that the voters should know about who they may be voting on,” said Williamson.

But Willis isn’t buying that. “He’s trying to tear down my character and my integrity,” he said.

Williamson’s supporters are also trying to make Willis’ candidacy invalid.

A letter was sent last week to the St. Louis City Election Board claiming that Willis is delinquent in paying his real estate and personal property taxes. That is relevant because a state law says no person’s name can appear on the ballot if he or she is in arrears for any unpaid city taxes on the last day to file a declaration of candidacy for the office.

Attached to the letter were records from the Collector of Revenue’s office showing that as of February 14, Willis still owed $786.41 in real estate taxes and $59.49 in personal property taxes. Willis confirmed to Pub Def that those taxes are still owed, but he said they will be paid today.

The letter was sent by attorney Darryl Piggee, chief of staff for Congressman Lacy Clay. Clay’s uncle, Irving Clay, is the former 26th Ward alderman who, upon retirement, was succeeded by Williamson. The Clays and Williamson are considered political allies.

Mary Wheeler-Jones, the Democratic Director of Elections for the City, tells Pub Def that the matter is on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting of the Election Commissioners.

Jones said she did not know what action the Commissioners might take on the issue, but it was “not as cut-and-dry as it appears.”

Officials at the St. Louis City Board of Elections tell PUB DEF that based upon morning traffic at the polls, they expect a higher than expected turnout of about 58 to 60 percent — roughly 100,000 voters.

PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

The first votes have arrived at the St. Louis City Board of Elections. Election judges arrived at in police cars around 12:30 carrying white boxes filled with optical scan ballots.

Election officials said no vote totals will be released until after the polls close.

Stay with PUBDEF.NET today for hourly updates.

The Missouri council of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) today called on Republican election director Scott Leiendecker to resign from the St. Louis City election board.

“Recent letters signed and sent by Leiendecker had the sole intent of causing eligible new voters to think that they have done something wrong or that they need to meet some higher standard in order to vote,” wrote AFSCME council director Ken Jacob in a press release today.

“It is clear that this was a transparent attempt to suppress the number of St. Louis citizens who go to the polls,” said Jacob.

“Hundreds of the public servants whom we at AFSCME represent live in St. Louis, and many of them may have been disenfranchised or needlessly confused about their rights because of the acts of Leiendecker as director of elections,” Jacob added.

Last week, Leiendecker and his Democratic counterpart, Mary Wheeler-Jones, sent a letter to thousands of people whose names were on suspect voter registration cards turned in by ACORN. Those cards, according to Leiendecker, are now at the U.S. Attorney’s office being investigated for fraud.

He said the letter was meant to insure that no legitimate voter would go unregistered simply because their card got mixed up with those suspected of being fraudulent.

“There will not be one living person turned away on Election Day,” Leiendecker told PUB DEF this evening. He said the problem is that many of the names on those suspect cards, and therefore who the Board’s letter was addressed to, are not alive. Many, he said, are dead, or underage, or clearly had their signatures forged.

The U.S. Attorney is currently investigating these allegations. Leiendecker said he nor Wheeler-Jones have any intentions of resigning ahead of Election Day.