Overview
- Local officials in Chelsea discovered that the names of multiple city councilors and a state representative appear on Rollins’s nominating papers even though several say they never signed and others appear twice.
- Campaign records and Chelsea receipts show Rollins submitted more than 1,600 signatures by the April deadline, and two pages with many Chelsea names were later turned in directly by Rollins while other pages were submitted by a volunteer.
- The Secretary of State’s office previously flagged at least one suspicious Chelsea submission and contacted a councilor about it, and Chelsea clerks already rejected some entries for wrong addresses or party mismatches.
- Attorney General Andrea Campbell said Rollins should be removed from the ballot if she “fraudulently” qualified, and the Secretary of State can refer questionable nomination papers to law enforcement for investigation.
- Rollins has acknowledged responsibility for the papers, said community volunteers collected signatures, and is investigating the irregularities while mail ballots are being distributed ahead of the Sept. 1 primary.