A judge ruled this week that Brian Pritchard, the first vice chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, has repeatedly voted illegally. Pritchard, who has promoted former President Donald Trump’s claims of widespread voter fraud, was fined $5,000 for voting illegally and registering to vote while serving a sentence for a felony conviction. The judge also ordered Pritchard not to commit further violations, to face public reprimand for his conduct, and to pay the State Election Board’s investigative costs. The ruling affirmed that Pritchard had voted illegally nine times in defiance of his extended probation related to felony forgery charges dating back nearly 30 years.
Pritchard was initially sentenced in 1996 to three years’ probation for felony forgery charges in Pennsylvania. His probation was revoked three times when he moved to Georgia in 1999, 2002, and 2004. In 2004, a judge imposed a new seven-year probationary sentence, making Pritchard ineligible to vote in the state until 2011. Despite this, in 2008, Pritchard filled out a voter registration form and cast several ballots in Georgia elections between 2008 and 2010. Pritchard testified that he was not aware of his felony sentences and did not believe he was still under probation at the time.
Judge Lisa Boggs, in her ruling, stated that she did not find Pritchard’s explanations credible. She mentioned that even if Pritchard did not know about his felony sentences, he should have known based on the evidence presented. Pritchard’s attorney and the Georgia Republican Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pritchard, in his questionnaire for the first vice chairman position of the party, expressed a desire to improve election integrity using the influence of the grassroots conservative movement.
Before his role as the first vice chairman, Pritchard ran for a state House seat but was defeated. During his campaign, he faced criticism for his voting record, which he attributed to attempts to manipulate the election and discredit him. Pritchard has also cast doubt on President Joe Biden’s legitimate victory in the 2020 presidential election, stating on his talk show that he does not believe 81 million people voted for Biden. Pritchard’s case highlights the significance of upholding election laws and the consequences of illegal voting, even for prominent political figures. The ruling against him serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and compliance with the law in the electoral process.
