An undercover video has placed several activists in potential legal jeopardy. They impersonated Minnesota voters during the primary election, claiming to test the state’s voter voucher law. While their actions were meant to evaluate the law, the video shows they may have violated it instead.

Minnesota’s Voter Voucher Law

The activists belong to the group Citizen Justice League, formerly known as Project Veritas. They posed as Minnesota voters in the videos, which have now amassed over 7 million views. This voter voucher law allows registered voters to vouch for new residents to verify their address. However, impersonating actual Minnesota voters is prohibited.

Impersonation Incident

A man in the video falsely identified himself as William Pomeranz to election officials. The real William Pomeranz, unaware of the incident initially, discovered the impersonation through unexpected messages during Election Day. The group did not proceed with illegal voting.

“Kudos to the poll workers. They reported it afterwards, and I got to vote without a problem,” Pomeranz explained.

Legal Implications

James O’Keefe, the man impersonating Pomeranz, may have broken Minnesota law. David Schultz, a constitutional law professor at Hamline University, explained, “It’s illegal in Minnesota to impersonate another voter.” Both Schultz and Secretary of State Steve Simon emphasize that the system functioned as intended, preventing actual voter fraud.

Impersonating a voter in Minnesota is a felony, with penalties up to seven years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The situation highlights the complexities of the state’s voting laws and the potential consequences of attempting to circumvent them.

Project Veritas Background

The incident draws attention to Project Veritas, known for secret recordings that often target news outlets and Democratic groups. James O’Keefe, its founder, left the organization in 2023 following financial misconduct allegations. CBS News Minnesota reached out to both Project Veritas and Citizen Justice League for comments but has yet to receive a response.