Minnesota prosecutors charge two right-wing influencers for posing as voters

As of October 28, 2026, James O'Keefe (42) and Cam Higby (26), two right-wing activists, were charged with felony unlawful voting and identity theft by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office in Minnesota. The charges stem from a video they posted following their August 11 visit to multiple polling stations during the state primary election, where they posed as registered voters using names without those individuals' knowledge or permission. According to Mary Moriarty, Hennepin County Attorney, O'Keefe and Higby dressed in costumes and misrepresented themselves at polling places while attempting to use Minnesota’s vouching process, which allows a registered voter to confirm the eligibility of another voter when proof of address is lacking.

The activists claimed their actions were intended to highlight potential security vulnerabilities in election systems. However, Secretary of State Steve Simon emphasized that such disruptions would not be tolerated and stressed the importance of maintaining integrity in elections. The Minnesota law under which they are charged clearly prohibits intentionally misrepresenting one’s identity when applying for a ballot or voting.

O'Keefe and Higby's actions have raised concerns about election security and voter verification processes, particularly regarding the rarely used vouching procedure, which accounted for less than 0.6% of votes in the 2024 general election. Their case highlights the legal consequences of attempting to undermine public confidence in electoral procedures through deceptive practices.