Conservative activists James O’Keefe and Cam Higby have been charged with felony unlawful voting and identity theft in Minnesota, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. The charges stem from an incident during the state's Aug. 11 primary election where the two men allegedly used false names and wore costumes while attempting to utilize Minnesota's "vouching" system.
Moriarty stated that O’Keefe, 42, of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Higby, 26, of Covington, Washington, posed as registered voters by providing the names of other individuals without their knowledge or permission. The "vouching" process allows unregistered voters to cast a ballot if vouched for by another registered voter in the same precinct, after both parties sign an oath of eligibility. The men recorded their interactions with poll workers for a video intended to highlight perceived vulnerabilities in election security.
According to the county attorney, poll workers became suspicious of the individuals' behavior and reported them to election officials, who then requested a police investigation. Although O'Keefe and Higby reportedly did not complete the final oath required for vouching, Moriarty indicated that their actions of providing false names and initiating the process were sufficient grounds for the felony charges.
"Free and fair elections are the bedrock of democracy, and their protection is one of our highest priorities," Moriarty said during a press conference.
O’Keefe, the founder of Project Veritas, is known for producing undercover sting-style videos. His organization, O’Keefe Media Group, released a statement and the video, asserting that the activists created an "intentionally extreme scenario to expose what they see as the lunacy of the state’s 'vouching' system." The statement claimed that the team aimed to observe how election workers would respond and what safeguards they would articulate.
Minnesota's election laws permit registered voters to "vouch" for others who may lack proof of address, provided both parties take an oath. This process is infrequently used, with fewer than 0.6% of votes cast in the November 2024 election utilizing it, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's office.
David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, commented that while he was unaware of widespread fraud resulting from the vouching system, there has been an increase in questionable actions by individuals promoting voter fraud claims. He emphasized that impersonating a voter is a serious offense.
O’Keefe and Higby have not yet entered pleas, and court records do not list attorneys representing them. Neither O'Keefe nor Higby immediately responded to requests for comment.