Dog Registered To Vote By Thomas Tolbert, New Mexico Man

Voter registration fraud is no laughing matter. That is, unless you're registering a dog.

Thomas Tolbert, an Albuquerque man, received the registration card for his dog when he passed a voter registration booth on the University of New Mexico campus a few weeks ago, according to KOB.com. Upon seeing the booth, he decided to see how easy it might be to register Buddy to vote.

It wasn't very hard to pull off. Tolbert, a Republican, was able to register the dog as a Democrat.

"They should verify," he told KOB. "Somebody should have verified this information and somebody should have come out and took a look at exactly who it was. But I made up a birth date, and I made up a social security number and I had a voter registration card in my hand for Buddy two weeks later."

Beyond having a laugh, Tolbert had hoped to expose how easy it may be to falsely register to vote.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver didn't find much humor in the situation. “I would warn those individuals who think this type of activity is a joke or a 'gotcha' that, regardless of their intentions, they have broken the law and will therefore have to be subject to due process of law," she said in a statement.

And, it appears Tolbert is no exception to the rules. According to the Smoking Gun, a county sheriff's spokesperson signaled an investigation into the fraudulent registration is underway. The outcome of the probe being conducted by the office's Criminal Investigation Division remains to be seen.

The punishment for voter fraud, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law, is up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Despite the ease with which Tolbert, a Republican, was able to register his canine as a Democrat, the center explains that voter fraud on the individual level is actually pretty rare.

Indeed, evidence from the microscopically scrutinized 2004 gubernatorial election in Washington State actually reveals just the opposite: though voter fraud does happen, it happens approximately 0.0009% of the time. The similarly closely-analyzed 2004 election in Ohio revealed a voter fraud rate of 0.00004%. National Weather Service data shows that Americans are struck and killed by lightning about as often.

Comments

[Rollin McKim]

08:56 PM on 06/19/2012

I know those clerks are overwhelmed these days, but blaming the dog/man instead of the system's failure to vet properly seems a bit lame.

But don't tell them down in Florida, those Democrats think the dead, the felons, the illegals and the non-residents should have ALL the voting rights.

[Mark Lehman]

10:17 AM on 05/31/2012

Republican Indiana Governor supports his Republican Attorney General, who was convicted of felony voter fraud. Republican Congressman was found to commit voter fraud. Republican Governor is not allowing registered voters mainly Democrats, Independents and Hispanics the right to vote. Voter fraud is rampant like Republicans have reported, but it's mostly in their party.

[FreedToChoose]

08:29 PM on 05/27/2012

Commit a felony to prove what? Even as a registered voter in New Mexico the dog or imposter would have to appear at a voting place with a valid ID to vote and even then, only once.

While it is easy to register, it is more difficult to vote and if you are willing to commit a felony in the process... I guess that's your choice.

[Laurel Kesling]

12:27 AM on 03/06/2012

I think we should all register our dogs, what then send millions to jail? Please....

[George286]

01:01 PM on 03/03/2012

This guy is married to a staffer for Republican senate candidate Heather Wilson (who disavows she had anything to do with it). Just another Tea Party stunt to support oppressive registration requirements to prevent Democrats from voting. It has been shown time and time again in verifying past votes that voter fraud is almost nonexistent, and this is the only legitimate way of showing voter fraud. Take the gloves off with these clowns, their Rupert Murdoch approach is always some lame humor followed by genuine nastiness. Tolbert should be prosecuted as an example, to prevent it being taken lightly and being repeated by others, the integrity of our elections is paramount. Wilson should be investigated for whether she instigated this voter fraud and likewise prosecuted if she did.

[Ed in NY]

11:00 AM on 04/09/2012

"Stunt"? "opressive registration requirements"? Let's face it and cut the bull, democrats want illegals to vote to boost their numbers. ANYONE has SOME form of ID whether it be a driver's license, a student ID, social security card or even an electric or phone bill. No excuse for ANYONE to simply walk into a polling place and simply say who they are. I'm quite proud that you didn't blame Bush for this...but you did have to blame someone, didn't you. Couldn't just see the simplicity of how easy it is to commit voter fraud in the US.

[FreedToChoose]

08:36 PM on 05/27/2012

Yada... yada...yada... and the Republican voter fraud task force in New Mexico yielded nada.

[George286]

12:48 PM on 03/03/2012

This guy is the husband of a staffer of Tea Party senate candidate Heather Wilson. Just another stunt to support oppressive voting requirements to stop Dems from voting. It has been shown time and time again in dissecting past votes that voter fraud is almost nonexistent. But this went over the line and my sense of humor with these right-wing b***ards has been reached. He should be prosecuted and Wilson too for instigating this.

[Thomas Nagano]

01:51 AM on 03/03/2012

Thomas Tolbert should be prosecuted to the full extent of the Law.

- TK

[FreedToChoose]

08:37 PM on 05/27/2012

Probation and costs since there was no criminal intent... still, his link to the Heather Wilson senate campaign may have soct her more than he assumed... wonder if his wife is still a Wilson camaign staffer...

[economystc]

10:45 PM on 03/02/2012

"They should verify," he told KOB. "Somebody should have verified this information and somebody should have come out and took a look at exactly who it was. THEY DO ALL THAT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY VOTE.

[FreedToChoose]

08:39 PM on 05/27/2012

They also trust that knowing it's a fourth degree felony will put a chill on the fraud. One thing to have a fake drivers license or credit card which can be used many places, but fake voter registration which has no use except at the polling place... silly...

[economystc]

10:43 PM on 03/02/2012

So at least he's here legally.

[giant1]

12:25 PM on 03/04/2012

After his trial he might be somewhere else legally.

[FreedToChoose]

08:40 PM on 05/27/2012

The dog? ;-)

[soisay]

09:49 PM on 03/02/2012

The issue will be if ” Buddy” shows up at the pools and tries to cat a vomit at a primary, local, or national election. Otherwise this is just another TeePee Wahoo blowing smoke and fanning smoke where there is no fire. He needs some time in the cooler, even tough there would be no affect on any vote.

[Cg Rzy]

09:14 PM on 03/02/2012

at least this "registered voter" is alive. i know that in some areas the dead are still voting.

[FreedToChoose]

08:40 PM on 05/27/2012

Even walking to the polling place... ;-)

[vampyreangelus]

09:04 PM on 03/02/2012

proof you need to be able to prove your an American citizen to vote.

[quadblissfulness]

08:05 PM on 03/02/2012

toilet toe tapper...

[postofficemike]

07:34 PM on 03/02/2012

If it's a Conservative, let the vote count. If liberal, throw it out!

[postofficemike]

07:33 PM on 03/02/2012

Woof, Woof!