Edward Snodgrass, who is a Porter Township trustee, has admitted to forging his dead father’s signature on an absentee ballot and then voting again as himself, court records and other sources revealed.
Snodgrass was busted after a Delaware County election worker questioned the signature on his father’s ballot. A subsequent investigation revealed the ballot had been mailed to H. Edward Snodgrass on Oct. 6 — a day after the 78-year-old retired businessman died.
In an interview with NBC News, Snodgrass said he made “an honest error” while struggling to take care of his dying father, who had advanced Parkinson’s disease. He said he had power of attorney for several years and because his dad had broken his right arm he’d already been “signing for him.” He said his dad had requested the absentee ballot.
Snodgrass says he was “sleep-deprived and not thinking clearly”.
“But I’m not going to run away from it.”
Originally he was charged with illegal voting, a fourth-degree felony, with 6 or more months and a $5,000 fine.
He got a plea deal and will likely serve 3 days in jail and pay a $500 fine. He goes in for sentencing July 9.
