Arkansas State Lawmaker Resigns After ‘Vodka for Votes’ Scheme

Nine people have been charged with voter fraud in a district in Arkansas, after a scheme was uncovered in which half-pint bottles of vodka were used to buy votes.

Three of those charged have pleaded guilty, including Democratic State Representative Hudson Hallum who has since resigned. Hallum had allegedly told a local city councilman — who is now a co-defendant — that they "need to use that black limo and buy a couple of cases of some cheap vodka and whiskey to get people to vote.”

In addition to these alcohol-fueled voter incentives, this scheme involved

absentee ballot fraud and destroying absentee votes for opponents.

“I mean, I guess I always knew, all along, it was wrong,” said Hallum in an interview. “But at first I really didn’t think it was that big a deal, because I’d always heard that’s what everybody did.”

Authorities discovered the fraud after Hallum’s opponent, Kim Felker, reported that she had been illegally offered absentee ballots. Holland now faces up to five years in prison.

Watch this report below for more details.

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