A Compton city councilman and five others have been charged with election fraud stemming from a June runoff that led to the councilman winning by one vote.
Councilman Isaac Galvan won his seat when he defeated candidate Andre Spicer 855 to 854. It was later alleged that Galvan conspired with others to steal the election.
Galvan was charged with conspiracy to commit election fraud on Aug. 13 along with Jace Dawson, Kimberly Chaouch, Toni Morris, Barry Reed, and Reginald Streeter.
The district attorney’s office also stated that Galvan attempted to bribe a registrar worker while she was counting ballots on the night of the election.
District Attorney George Gascón said in the statement that elections should be “free and fair” and need to be protected.
“We must do everything in our power to protect the integrity of the electorate process and to ensure that elections are free and fair,” he said. “The people of Los Angeles County expect and deserve a government that is free of political corruption at every level.”
Morris, Reed, Chaouch, and Streeter were accused of illegally voting in the election while registered to vote at Dawson’s address and living elsewhere.
“My office immediately notified law enforcement of our concerns and then fully cooperated in the investigation,” Logan said.
“These charges and the activities alleged in this case are serious and strike at a time when public confidence in our electoral process is in decline and misinformation about the security of voting is rampant.”
Galvan and Dawson pleaded not guilty on Aug. 13 in the courtroom.
