A woman who registered her dog to vote has pleaded not guilty to making false statements on a voter-registration form.
Jane Balogh, who says it’s too easy for a voter to register illegally, sought to prove her point by registering her dog Duncan MacDonald as a King County absentee voter.
She put her phone in Duncan’s name, and that apparently sufficed. Although the Australian shepherd-terrier mix “signed” each ballot envelope with a picture of a paw print, he didn’t vote. Balogh wrote “void” on each ballot.
The King County prosecutor’s office charged Balogh, 66, with making false or misleading statements to a public servant, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Balogh had planned to plead guilty, but changed her mind because election officials were using Duncan’s outing as proof the system worked.
“She’s just kind of annoyed because Duncan’s still on the voting rolls,” said Balogh’s lawyer, Kristen Anderson. However, Laura Lockard, acting election program manager for voter services, said there is “an arduous process” to have someone — even if that someone is a dog — taken off the voter rolls.
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To successfully remove Duncan, Balogh will be presented with a letter challenging her dog’s registration and calling her to a public hearing.
“They need to fix their system,” said Balogh, who pleaded not guilty Thursday, “and if they don’t, I’ve wasted my time.”