Former Arizona lawmaker indicted on fraud charges over ballot signatures

Former Arizona Rep. Austin Smith faces 14 charges for allegedly forging signatures on nominating petitions for re-election. — Image credit: Arizona State Legislature

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Summary

Former AZ lawmaker indicted

Former Arizona lawmaker Austin Smith has been indicted on 14 counts related to forging signatures to qualify for the 2024 election ballot.

Election fraud charges

The charges include multiple felonies and misdemeanors, with potential prison time if convicted.

Lawsuit alleged election fraud

Smith dropped his re-election bid shortly before a lawsuit accused him of submitting fraudulent petitions.

Full story

A former Arizona lawmaker has been indicted on fraud charges, accused of forging signatures to get his name on the ballot, according to court documents. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, D, announced that Austin Cole Smith, the former 29th District representative in Arizona’s House of Representatives and a leader of the conservative political advocacy group Turning Point Action, is facing 14 counts related to fraudulent candidate signatures.

“The defendant has been charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors, including deceiving the Secretary of State’s Office with petitions containing forged elector signatures and signing names other than his own to the nominating petition,” the AG’s office said in a statement.

Smith is facing serious legal consequences. Each felony charge could result in 1 to 2 years in prison if he’s found guilty, and each misdemeanor charge could lead to up to six months in jail if convicted.

Background on Smith’s political career

Smith was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2022. He was serving his first term in 2023 when he decided to put his name in the hat for re-election.

In Arizona, when someone runs for public office, they usually have to collect a certain number of signatures from registered voters who support their candidacy. These signatures are submitted to election officials to demonstrate that the candidate has sufficient public support to qualify and appear on the election ballot.

Lawsuit preceded withdrawal from race

Smith dropped his re-election bid in April 2024, days before an elector filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of knowingly forging signatures on nomination petitions.

“Several of Smith’s petition sheets bear purported voter signatures that appear to have been written by the same person. Many of those signatures bear a striking resemblance to Smith’s,” the lawsuit states.

Turning Point USA connection

Smith held the position of senior director at Turning Point Action, which is described as the campaign division of Turning Point USA, a group focused on mobilizing young conservative voters.

Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative podcaster and Turning Point USA’s founder, endorsed Smith in 2022, writing on X, “I always say ‘support the fighters,’ and @AZAustinSmith has been in the fight with me for 7 years, and now he’s running to represent Arizona in the State House. He’ll fight for fair elections, strong families, and a secure border. I’m proud to endorse him.”

I always say "support the fighters," and @azaustinsmith has been in the fight with me for 7 years and now he's running to represent Arizona in the State House

He’ll fight for fair elections, strong families, and a secure border. I'm proud to endorse him.https://t.co/WFLdizuaMf
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 1, 2022

Straight Arrow News has reached out to Turning Point USA for comment.

Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer) and Zachary Hill (Video Editor) contributed to this report.

Tags: Arizona, Conservative, Fraud, Lawsuit, Prison, Republicans

[Lauren Keenan]

A FORMER ARIZONA LAWMAKER HAS BEEN INDICTED ON FRAUD CHARGES, ACCUSED OF FORGING SIGNATURES TO GET HIS NAME ON THE BALLOT, ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS.

ARIZONA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED AUSTIN COLE SMITH, THE FORMER 29TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE IN ARIZONA’S HOUSE, IS FACING 14 COUNTS RELATED TO FRAUDULENT CANDIDATE SIGNATURES.

“THE DEFENDANT HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS, INCLUDING DECEIVING THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE WITH PETITIONS CONTAINING FORGED ELECTOR SIGNATURES AND SIGNING NAMES OTHER THAN HIS OWN TO THE NOMINATING PETITION,” THE AG’S OFFICE SAID IN A PRESS RELEASE.

SMITH WAS ELECTED TO THE ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 2022. WHILE SERVING IN HIS FIRST TERM IN 2023 WHEN HE DECIDED TO PUT HIS NAME IN THE HAT FOR RE-ELECTION.

IN ARIZONA, WHEN SOMEONE RUNS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, THEY USUALLY HAVE TO COLLECT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SIGNATURES FROM REGISTERED VOTERS WHO SUPPORT THEIR CANDIDACY.

SMITH DROPPED HIS RE-ELECTION BID IN APRIL 2024 – DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTOR FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST HIM, ACCUSING HIM OF KNOWINGLY FORGING SIGNATURES TO NOMINATION PETITIONS.

“SEVERAL OF SMITH’S PETITION SHEETS BEAR PURPORTED VOTER SIGNATURES THAT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY THE SAME PERSON. MANY OF THOSE SIGNATURES BEAR A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO SMITH’S,” THE LAWSUIT STATES.

SMITH IS FACING SERIOUS LEGAL CONSEQUENCES. EACH FELONY CHARGE COULD RESULT IN 1 TO 2 YEARS IN PRISON IF HE’S FOUND GUILTY AND EACH MISDEMEANOR CHARGE COULD LEAD TO UP TO SIX MONTHS IN JAIL IF CONVICTED.

FOR SAN, I’M LK.

Why this story matters

Allegations of election-related fraud against a former Arizona lawmaker highlight legal accountability and potential concerns about the integrity of political processes.

Election integrity

The charges against Austin Cole Smith focus on accusations of forging candidate petition signatures, raising issues about honesty and trust in the electoral process.

Legal accountability

According to the Arizona Attorney General's office, Smith is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, demonstrating the mechanisms of legal oversight for public officials.

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Context corner

The situation occurs amid heightened focus on election laws and integrity in Arizona, a state that has faced ongoing debates and investigations since 2020 over its election processes. Smith, as an outspoken critic of election security, was prominent in promoting reviews of the 2020 election results, making the nature of the allegations particularly controversial within this broader context.

History lesson

Disputes over forged signatures or ballot access challenges are not new in U.S. politics. Similar allegations have led to disqualifications and legal consequences for candidates in other states. Historically, such cases highlight ongoing tensions between maintaining open ballot access and preventing fraud, contributing to repeated calls for reform and stricter oversight.

Policy impact

The indictment underscores the importance of rigorous verification procedures for nominating petitions and may prompt legislative reviews or changes in Arizona's protocol for ballot access. It also raises questions about the enforcement of candidate eligibility laws and could influence public trust in future electoral processes statewide.