An Arizona-based media and consulting company has ceased operations amidst burgeoning investigations into alleged voter registration fraud in Pennsylvania.
The Center Square reported that Field and Media Corps, known for its ties to large-scale voter drives, is under scrutiny for possible fraudulent activities affecting numerous registrations.
The firm was established in 2017 and had quickly become integral in canvassing operations across various states, including Pennsylvania, contracting primarily with the organization Everybody Votes.
In Monroe County, the District Attorney's Office has identified 30 fraudulent registration forms. This batch included one form for a deceased individual, sparking immediate concerns over the integrity of the firm's operations.
Lancaster County investigators found a similar pattern in a larger batch of 2,500 applications, where approximately 60% of those reviewed were deemed fraudulent.
The America First Policy Institute, noting the scale of the alleged fraud, has called for federal authorities to intervene. Hogan Gidley, vice chairman of the institute's Center for Election Integrity, emphasized the severity, stating, "Where there’s fire, there’s fire."
Gidley further accused the firm of submitting fraudulent registrations at the voter deadline, a tactic purportedly designed to overwhelm election officials.
Everybody Votes, the primary contractor for Field and Media Corps, is linked to the super PAC Mind the Gap, which focuses on boosting Democratic voter registrations in battleground states.
Mind the Gap was notably successful in influencing the 2018 midterm elections, contributing to the Democratic takeover of the U.S. House.
This connection raises additional questions about the motivations behind the voter registration strategies employed by these organizations.
Financial records reveal that Everybody Votes reported a substantial $45.8 million in revenues for 2022, a significant portion of which came from public funding. Furthermore, donors linked to this group are reported to have illegally raised $190 million to register 5.1 million voters.
These fundraising efforts were reportedly in support of Mind the Gap's objectives, aiming to influence elections by targeting low-income minority demographics for voter registration.
During the 2020 presidential elections, the voter drives influenced by Everybody Votes are estimated to have added between 1 million and 2.7 million votes for Joe Biden across crucial swing states.
This influence is significant, considering the narrow margins in several of these states. The Democratic Party's registration advantage in Pennsylvania has notably decreased over the past four years, highlighting the potential impact of these efforts.
Francisco Heredia, the head of Field and Media Corps, has defended his firm’s practices, ensuring their commitment to legal voter registration methods. Heredia stated to Votebeat, "I’d not heard from county officials in Pennsylvania, but would cooperate with the investigation."
He further emphasized that his company trains workers to legally complete registration forms and maintains a strict no-tolerance policy for fraud.
The unfolding situation poses significant legal and political implications for all parties involved. As investigations continue, the outcomes could profoundly affect voter trust and election integrity ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
Authorities are expected to delve deeper into the practices of Field and Media Corps and their associates to ensure the sanctity of voter registration processes is maintained.
