Elections. (Credit: Montgomery County)
Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairman Neil Makhija sought to alert area residents about a “potential voter fraud case here in Montgomery County.”
Makhija, a Democrat, who also serves as chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, shared limited details surrounding the alleged development involving an “individual who doesn’t live in Montgomery County who has voted here.”
While the person’s identity was not disclosed, and it’s unclear what specific election or elections were in question, Makhija cited “national reporting” in his remarks during a board meeting earlier this month.
“It’s a serious offense,” Makhija said. “Because if you don’t live here, you shouldn’t vote here, and particularly if you have knowledge of the election process, have done work like training poll workers and are familiar with the election laws – that would indicate that you should have a pretty clear idea you should not vote in Montgomery County.”
Makhija stressed the county has protocols to safeguard elections at multiple levels, including registration, individualized ballot barcodes and audits.
“Overall, this is very rare, and it doesn’t happen a lot in Montgomery County, or elsewhere, because most people understand the rules, and they understand there’s quite significant penalties for those,” Makhija said.
State and federal laws vary for voter fraud-related offenses, with monetary fines and jail time listed as possible punishments. Makhija noted that Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele “oversee election code enforcement” cases.
When asked about the matter, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Communications Director Kate Delano told MediaNews Group “I can never confirm if there’s an investigation unless and until charges would be filed.”
Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello, the board’s sole Republican commissioner, said he didn’t have a comment in response to Makhija’s remarks concerning the alleged incident, but stressed the importance of having “real conversations” surrounding election procedures.
“I would rather us have legitimate conversations, and talk about what if type scenarios, [rather] than us to sit there and go into our corners,” DiBello told MediaNews Group.
Election security was top of mind for the three-member board, which includes Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairwoman Jamila Winder, who’s also a Democrat, as preparations continue leading up to the general election on Nov. 4. The Montgomery County Office of Voter Services secured 1,500 poll workers and 390 judges of elections for the off-year election featuring judgeships, municipal and school board races.
“These are people who are the backbone of the democratic process. They’re making sure their friends and neighbors can vote no matter who they’re voting for,” Makhija said.
Makhija raised concerns about “letters circulating” from an organization called Citizens Alliance Pennsylvania “that encourages judges of elections to ‘bring the fight inside the precinct.’”
Makhija said he’s “never heard” of the Lemonye, Cumberland County-based group, who according to the organization’s website, focus on promoting candidates who believe in limited government, the second amendment and medical and economic freedoms.
“I don’t know what that means, but I want to make clear our polling places and precincts are spaces where there’s no campaigning, and we want to make sure that all voters and staff feel safe from intimidation and that kind of rhetoric is totally out of place in our election process, and I think all of our poll workers –those 1500 people who are making this process smooth for all of their neighbors– don’t appreciate that in their precinct,” Makhija said.
The voter registration deadline for the 2025 general election is set for Monday, Oct. 20. Those interested in voting by mail must request their mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and all ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. when the polls close on Election Day. Visit montcovotes.com for more information about elections in Montgomery County.
