By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – St. Louis election officials have found about 1,500 suspect voter registration cards that mostly come from the same source.
Elections director Scott Leiendecker says three dead people and a 16-year old have registered to vote, and multiple cards appeared to have the same handwriting. Leiendecker says almost all of the suspect cards were turned in by the group ACORN, and there could be more.
"We're not even through the entire process right now," said Leiendecker. "It looks like anywhere between 15-20% seem to have a problem.
"We still have to get through the 100% of the cards that have come in." Once that happens, the suspect cards will be turned over to prosecutors.
ACORN already faces accusations that it turned in fraudulent cards in Philadelphia, Denver, and Ohio. But ACORN noted that no one has been accused the group of knowingly submitting false registration cards.
"ACORN does not commit voter fraud," national president Maude Hurd said in a statement. "We work hard to bring new people into the democratic process and work to maintain good quality control."
ACORN is a non-profit and non-partisan group that sends workers and volunteers to poor neighborhoods, courthouses and other places to sign up new voters.
Three years ago similar suspect cards turned up in St. Louis among those turned in by ACORN, including one for an infant, but no criminal charges ever were filed.