Voter Fraud Found in Vernon Election, New Winner Named

Vernon residents cast ballots in the first election in a corruption-free era. Except at least seven of the 64 votes came from non-Vernon residents, according to a judge hired to examine claims of voter fraud.

Her findings disqualified the ballots and would result in a new winner in one race should the city council approve her ruling.

The Chamber of Commerce brought forward the challenges to the ballots, saying that the election had been stolen. Upon review, former Superior Court Judge Debra Yang, who was hired for about $1,000 an hour, found sufficient evidence that at least five voters didn’t live in Vernon, including one who admitted it directly. In other cases, Yang found that voters had multiple residences.

Her decision drew upon interviews with voters about a manner of topics, including Facebook pages, commuting habits, and financial history. In all, Yang interviewed dozens of voters at City Hall.

Read the full story at the Los Angeles Times.