Gov. Wolf Says Trump's Voter Fraud Claims Are 'Dangerous'
PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA/AP) - Donald Trump continues to insist that there's a lot of fraud in the U.S. voting system. Yesterday, Trump lashed out at Republicans who've tried to tone him down, calling his own party's leaders "so naive."
A study by a Loyola Law School professor found that out of 1 billion votes cast in all American elections between 2000 and 2014, there were only 31 known cases of impersonation fraud.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tells the "KDKA Morning News" that Trump's claims are "dangerous" and that, "It really could undermine the legitimacy of our system."
"We have online voter registration. The person registers directly online, there is no transcription error," Wolf says. "When you go to vote, you have to give your signature and at least in my community, when I go to vote, the signature that they compare it against is upside down so I can't possibly forge it. If they don't know who you are when you go into a polling station, you have to show photo ID if you're voting for the first time."
Wolf went on to say that it sounds like Trump is already making excuses.
"Let me be clear, there's absolutely no evidence that there is voter fraud and to say the elections are rigged, that sounds like, in advance, a poor loser talking about excuses as to why the good people of Pennsylvania aren't going to vote for him," says Wolf.
Wolf also responded to comments Trump made to his supporters to watch for any voter fraud with some claiming Trump's comments can be seen as him encouraging intimidation at some polling places.
Gov. Wolf says that volunteers from both parties are present at his polling station and that he welcomes them, but thinks Trump's comments may inspire some of his supporters to use intimidation.
"If anybody is getting into the polling booth itself to look over someone's shoulder when they vote, that's a violation of the voter law. That is fraud. So, intimidation is not what makes for a good democracy and again Trump is overreaching here," says Wolf.
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(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
