Minneapolis Man Charged With Absentee Ballot Fraud

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Hennepin County prosecutors have charged a 22-year-old Minneapolis man with 13 felony counts of voting fraud.

Abdihakim Amin Essa allegedly helped 13 people fraudulently cast absentee ballots last year. The charges filed last week say he told officials he was working for a campaign.

The charges don't name the campaign, and reports say prosecutors declined to disclose it.

Essa allegedly told election workers he signed his father's name as a witness on the ballots. Essa allegedly told them the forgeries were necessary because he's not a U.S. citizen, which is a requirement for witnessing absentee ballots, while his father is a citizen and is registered to vote.

Elections officials rejected 13 ballots with signatures allegedly forged by Essa.

A warrant is out for Essa's arrest. His father told the Star Tribune they had no comment.