Right-wing activist orders fake ballots to prove fraud — and ends up convicted

Conservative activist Harry Wait said he ordered ballots in the names of prominent local politicians four years ago to expose the risks of voter fraud. Prosecutors determined he was right that voter fraud was an issue — and he was the culprit.

On Tuesday night, a jury in Wisconsin convicted Wait of one felony count of identity theft and two misdemeanor counts of election fraud. The jury acquitted him on a second identity theft charge. He faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison, though he is unlikely to receive such a severe punishment.

The verdict came as President Donald Trump and his allies focus on the dangers of voter fraud and pressure Senate Republicans to pass legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register and photo identification to vote.

Voter fraud is extremely rare, and Wait's case demonstrates that those attempting to expose it can face serious legal consequences if they exceed legal boundaries.

Wait, a 71-year-old retired business consultant and president emeritus of HOT Government — a group advocating for "honest, open and transparent leadership" — has long criticized Wisconsin's online ballot ordering system. In 2022, he used that system to request ballots in the names of State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Racine Mayor Cory Mason.

Wait requested the ballots be sent to his home and then publicly announced his actions, stating he was highlighting a flaw that "bad actors could exploit to cast ballots for other people." The state Justice Department launched an investigation and charged him.

One municipal clerk sent Wait a ballot, while the other did not. Election officials stated that such actions are "extremely rare" and would have been "quickly caught on to" regardless of disclosure. The state tracks ballot destinations and investigates voter inquiries about unauthorized ballot requests.

Despite the charges, Wait has remained steadfast about his actions. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat, because to save the republic, soldiers have to draw blood and blood be drawn," Wait told The Washington Post in 2022.

His supporters have championed him as a hero, wearing "Free Harry" T-shirts and military-style dog tags at rallies. During his trial, backers filled the Racine courtroom.

Wait became involved in election practices scrutiny after Trump's 2020 loss. Multiple reviews have confirmed the election results were correctly tallied, but Wait maintains the election was rigged. Trump has similarly continued claiming the election was stolen, and his administration recently seized ballots in Georgia and election data in Arizona.

Wait is not alone in facing legal consequences for election-related activities. Milwaukee's deputy elections director Kimberly Zapata created three false identities to request military ballots, claiming she sought to identify a system flaw. Fired immediately, she was convicted in 2024 of absentee-ballot fraud and misconduct in office, receiving one year probation.

In Colorado, former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters is serving a nine-year prison sentence for conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation related to voting machine hard drive copying. In Michigan, two attorneys and a former state lawmaker face charges related to voting machine access efforts.