BJ00:81
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, August 22, 2000 | Contact: Shad Balch Alfie Charles
Jones Issues Warning Against On-line Vote Buying Schemes SACRAMENTO --- Secretary of State Bill Jones today issued the following statement regarding recent stories about on-line vote buying and selling on the E-Bay auction site and through a web site at voteauction.com: "Any individual who attempts to buy or sell votes, whether through an Internet auction site or personal communication, is guilty of a felony and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. "We have an absolute zero tolerance policy for voter fraud in California. My election fraud investigation unit is looking into the recent reports of Internet-based vote buying schemes, will be monitoring web sites for suspicious election activity and will forward any information they find to the appropriate prosecutors for immediate action. "During the last nine months, voter fraud investigations conducted by my office resulted in six convictions for a total of 13 years in prison." "Voters who have been approached regarding vote-buying or voter coercion should contact the Secretary of State’s office at 1-800-345-VOTE." -30-

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