PHOENIX — Denisha Mitchell expressed her astonishment when she discovered that she had filled out paperwork to serve as an elector for independent presidential candidate Cornel West. Her immediate reaction was one of disbelief, followed by confusion about what an elector actually is.
“I was shocked and surprised by it all. I didn’t even know what an elector was,” said Mitchell. “The crazy thing is, it was all forged. None of it was my handwriting. It was definitely not my signature. My email was wrong, my address was wrong.”
Mitchell’s case highlights a troubling trend of questionable tactics being employed to qualify West for the ballot across several states. This effort, seemingly unbeknownst to West himself, raises alarms about the integrity of election processes. Mitchell has indicated that her information was misused, and she aims to submit an affidavit to state authorities affirming she never consented to be an elector.
Legal experts warn that submitting false information to a government entity in Arizona constitutes a felony. As the presidential election period intensifies, there’s growing concern regarding attempts to undermine electoral integrity, particularly involving West’s campaign. Republican activists are reportedly attempting to position West as a spoiler candidate, potentially diverting liberal votes from the Democratic nominee in critical battleground states.
Efforts to get West on the ballot have been noted in multiple states, including Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The strategy appears to involve creating confusion among voters and using West to dilute voter support for the Democratic candidate, which could significantly impact the election results.
Interestingly, Mitchell’s situation is not isolated. One elector listed for West pleaded guilty to manslaughter over two decades ago, while two others do not appear to be registered voters at the addresses provided. Mitigating the integrity of the electoral process raises serious ethical and legal questions.
Since finding out about her supposed role as an elector, Mitchell has distanced herself from the campaign after learning of the Republican affiliations involved in promoting West’s candidacy. “We weren’t for the Republican griminess, so we stopped pushing him,” she stated.
The involvement of a signature gathering contractor with ties to controversial political operatives, including one previously convicted of voter registration fraud, raises further concerns about the legitimacy of the campaign efforts.
Similar unusual tactics are being reported nationwide, with implications regarding electoral integrity across the landscape. Instances of dubious signature gathering and questionable affiliations illustrate the lengths some groups are willing to go to manipulate electoral outcomes.
As voter access and the treatment of signatures face scrutiny, the overarching challenge of maintaining fair elections in tightly contested districts remains paramount. Election officials and the public are urged to remain vigilant in order to preserve the democratic process.
