Vote fraud case in California shows problems with both mail-in voting and vote harvesting

There is a reason that secret ballots were adopted precisely to prevent voters being pressured to vote a particular way. While this focuses on pressuring voters to support this candidate, there is also the possibility of buying votes. The mail-in voting and vote harvesting rules in California makes this type of fraud possible.

Khan faces multiple felony charges that stem from the 2020 election. He is accused of stashing 41 ballots at his home. Investigators also say he registered 23 people to vote at his home and that his email and phone number were used to register 47 others. Body camera footage showed voters telling detectives how Khan allegedly pressured them to vote for him and how he allegedly falsified voter registration documents.

Melanie Wingo, “‘I did not resign,’ Lodi Council Member Shakir Khan tells KCRA 3 in exclusive interview,” KCRA Channel 3 (Sacramento, California), February 18, 2023.