Marty Small, campaign workers charged with voter fraud

Former Atlantic City mayoral candidate Marty Small and 13 people who worked on his campaign were indicted on voter-fraud charges yesterday related to June's Democratic primary.

Attorney General Anne Milgram outlined a variety of absentee-ballot "schemes" that she said Small, a city councilman, and his associates used in a failed attempt to sway the race.

In some instances, votes came from people who did not actually receive absentee ballots, Milgram said. In other cases, the workers unsealed the ballots and submitted only those with votes for Small.

Some votes came from people who did not live in the city, some had forged signatures, and some came from people who were not authorized to use messenger ballots, a type of absentee ballot intended for the sick and frail, according to the Attorney General's Office. In certain cases Small's associates allegedly instructed voters on whom to support.

Milgram said at least 20 voters were victimized.

"These are serious crimes. The ability to vote is one of our most fundamental rights," Milgram said.

At the time of the June primary, messenger ballots were to be used only by those too sick to reach the polls. The law changed July 1 to allow more people to use the voting method.

Small lost the race decisively.

Small in 2005 was charged with voter fraud, but was acquitted. He could not be reached yesterday for comment.

The most serious of the charges could carry a 10-year prison term and $150,000 fine.

Five of the people charged yesterday also face pending voter-fraud charges from previous indictments.