Chris McDaniel to reward people with voter fraud evidence

(WMC-TV) –  "We've already found more than 5,000 irregularities in the ballot process. We've already heard of two allegations of criminal conduct and we have anecdotal evidence of unusual behavior," says State Senator Chris McDaniel.

A reward for evidence of voter fraud, that's what the Chris McDaniel campaign is now offering, following his Mississippi senate runoff loss against Thad Cochran.

Senator Chris McDaniel says he'll pay 15 people $1,000 each for proof that voter fraud took place on or leading up to the June 24 Republican primary.

"If he feels like there's strong enough evidence that there's a problem here, I don't blame him for pushing it," says Southaven resident Jerry Vinzette.

"I don't think its voter fraud. I think it was a fair, honest election," adds Southaven resident Jerry Jones.

Senator McDaniel's fraud reward comes after another allegation of criminal misconduct aimed at Senator Thad Cochran's campaign's effort to bring ineligible voters to the polls June 24.

"The allegations are baseless. Chris McDaniel is clearly not concerned with the integrity of the process or what's best for the State of Mississippi," says Sen. Thad Cochran spokesperson Jordan Russell.

Some DeSoto County voters say no matter what comes from Senator McDaniel's claims, enough is enough.

"I'm fed up with it, ready for it to be over with," adds Jerry Jones.

Sen. McDaniel tells WMC Action News 5 he wants to continue to protect the integrity of the election process and the Republican party and he hopes this reward will lead to the arrest of those responsible for voter fraud.

Below is the statement sent to WMC Action News 5 from Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann:

In response to the litigation against the State of Mississippi, the Secretary of State's Office has not violated any federal or State laws and should be immediately dismissed from this litigation.  Every citizen should anticipate this Agency will follow scrupulously Mississippi law, as enacted by Mississippi citizens through its legislative process.

Those include:

1. In the event the Secretary of State's Office is made aware of any person voting in both a Democratic Primary and a Republican primary, those individuals' names will be forwarded to the District Attorney and Attorney General for whatever prosecutorial action they deem appropriate. 

2. The Secretary of State's Office possesses no poll books from either the June 3^rd Primary Election or the June 24^th Primary Runoff Election.  We support full disclosure of poll books to the public in accordance with Mississippi law. 

3. The Secretary of State's Office has committed no violation of the National Voter Registration Act and will not.  This Agency followed federal and state law in implementing Voter ID and will continue to follow all voting laws.

4. The Secretary of State's Office requested a change in the law to require our Agency to report on Mississippi elections to the public and Legislature. As required by the State Legislature, this Office issues Election Day Reports for all elections in Mississippi.  The public should anticipate a report for the June 24^th Primary Runoff Election.

5.  Party Primary Elections are the responsibility of the Party, not the Secretary of State.  The Secretary of State's Office does not certify primary election results.  The Secretary of State only receives certified results from the party in order to prepare the General Election ballot.

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