Conservative activists charged with unlawful voting after Minnesota polling-site stunt

Two conservative activists, James Edward O'Keefe and Cam Higby, have been charged in Hennepin County with unlawful voting and identity theft after a recorded incident at a Minnesota polling site. Prosecutors say the men gave election judges the names of registered voters without those voters’ consent, violating state law that prohibits intentional misrepresentation when applying for a ballot.

The pair filmed themselves in Islamic attire and used fabricated accents while interacting with poll workers, later releasing the video to claim they were exposing vulnerabilities in the state’s voting system. Higby, a 26-year-old political commentator, told the BBC that the stunt was intended to highlight weaknesses in Minnesota’s voter-vouching law, which allows registered voters to confirm the identity and address of up to eight other voters.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said any attempt to disrupt or deceive election workers will not be tolerated and emphasized that polling places must remain safe and peaceful. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office confirmed that neither O'Keefe nor Higby signed the required oath confirming their address. Court dates for the defendants have not yet been set.