David Becker calls impersonating another voter a very serious crime
David BeckerExecutive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, speaking to the Associated Press
In the AP's report on the charges, election administration expert David Becker says he knows of no case of vouching leading to organized or widespread fraud, notes recent efforts by people pushing fraud claims to commit questionable acts themselves, and calls impersonating another voter a very serious crime.
Responding to
James O'Keefe and Cam Higby misrepresented their identities by giving election judges names of registered voters in the precinct without those voters' knowledge or permission.
“Impersonating another voter is a very serious crime”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Hennepin County charges James O'Keefe and Cam Higby over Minneapolis vouching videos; O'Keefe says they never applied for a ballot
On October 28, 2026, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office charged James O'Keefe and Cam Higby with felony unlawful voting and identity theft. Prosecutors say the two men gave election judges at Minneapolis precincts the names of registered voters, without those voters' knowledge, while filming a video about Minnesota's vouching rules during the August 11 primary. O'Keefe says they never applied for a ballot and describes the work as journalism. Higby says no laws were broken.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Associated Press report on the charges, carried by WDBO. It summarizes Moriarty's news conference, the vouching process, the August 13 video, O'Keefe's written statement released that evening, a statement from O'Keefe Media Group, and comments from David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The AP report says Becker was not aware of any example of vouching leading to organized or widespread fraud, but that he said there have been more efforts recently by those pushing voter fraud claims to commit questionable acts themselves.
After the quotation
The report then describes how voter identification laws vary from state to state.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is O'Keefe and Higby's conduct at Minneapolis polling places during the August 11 primary, where prosecutors say they gave election judges registered voters' names while asking about vouching. Becker describes impersonating another voter as a very serious crime in the AP's report on the charges and says people pushing fraud claims have committed questionable acts themselves.
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- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- James O'Keefe, Cam Higby
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Rand Paul asks why Minnesota goes after O'Keefe and Higby instead of the actual bad guys
“Massive, multi-million-dollar social services and healthcare fraud scandals, and yet Minnesota chooses to go after @JamesOKeefeIII and @camhigby. Any interest in going after the actual bad guys, Minnesota?”Read statement
James O'Keefe says questioning polling officials is journalism, not a crime
“If that's a crime, anyone who speaks with a polling official and asks questions is also committing a crime. Journalism is not a crime.”Read statement
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- David Becker calls impersonating another voter a very serious crime
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The Dispute Index. "David Becker calls impersonating another voter a very serious crime". First published: 2026-11-01. Last updated: 2026-11-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/7720-in-the-ap-s-report-on-the-charges