Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 28, 1994 TAG: 9410280085
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
``I want to nip it in the bud, and I want people to know we won't put up with it and that we're investigating it as a crime,'' said Sheriff Dick Carrico.
Carrico said he got a call Sunday from someone who found some of the ballots in the southern part of Carroll County. He contacted Commonwealth's Attorney Gregory Goad, who advised Carrico to look into the matter and notify the Federal Elections Commission.
The altered ballots seem to be duplicates - even to the blue color of the paper on which they are printed - of Republican sample ballots marking an X beside the names of Oliver North, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, and Steve Fast, Republican challenger for the 9th District congressional seat.
On the altered ballots, which retain the designation at the top as Republican sample ballots, the X marks are placed beside Coleman in the Senate race and beside Boucher, D-Abingdon, in the House race.
Carrico said Thursday there was no evidence that the altered ballots had been distributed anywhere.
But the alterations are a violation of state and federal law, he said. The actual sample ballots are paid for and authorized by the Carroll County Republican Committee and Darrell G. Jennings as committee treasurer, making the others counterfeits.
Carrico said he is angry over the ballots because Carroll County has not had this kind of problem in the past.
He said he is asking that anyone with information on the altered ballots, or anyone who discovers more, to contact the Sheriff's Office.
by CNB