State election: Fake ballot papers in Saxony: 44-year-old under suspicion

After ballot papers were manipulated in the Saxony state election, a search was carried out in Dresden. The State Criminal Police Office and the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that a 44-year-old man was being investigated. Possible evidence was secured during the search in the Langebrück district. The investigators did not want to provide any more specific information. However, suspicions have grown stronger. Investigations are being conducted on suspicion of election fraud.

During the state elections on September 1, numerous manipulated postal ballots appeared in Dresden and the surrounding area. The vote on them had been changed in favor of the small, right-wing extremist party Free Saxony. They were later declared invalid.

According to investigators, this affected 111 ballot papers in Dresden constituencies, 14 ballot papers in Radeberg and one in Dohna in the state election. In addition, 154 postal ballot papers in two constituencies in Dresden-Langebrück were manipulated in favor of the Free Saxons in the local elections in June.

The authorities did not want to say whether the suspect is an official or a member of this party. They said that the investigation was ongoing. The 44-year-old is currently being investigated, but it cannot be ruled out that other people may be suspected of the crime.

After the manipulation became known, the Free Saxons denied having anything to do with it. The party is classified as a right-wing extremist endeavor by the state’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution. According to the Office, they are a group of neo-Nazis, officials of the former NPD and other members or sympathizers of the scene, organized as a party.