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Election Fraud Sparks Investigators Interests

Federal prosecutors and West Virginia election officials are ready to unveil an investigation into alleged fraud.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin and Secretary of State Natalie Tennant are holding a joint press conference Monday at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse.

Officials will only say it involves an election fraud probe in the southern federal court district.

A 2004 federal vote-buying probe led to guilty pleas by several elected Democratic officials in Logan and Lincoln counties. One of those convicted, former Lincoln County Assessor Jerry Weaver, is now running for sheriff.

More recently, a judge threw out more than 300 contested absentee ballots cast in Lincoln County's 2010 Democratic primary. That changed the outcome in the circuit clerk's race.

West Virginia's candidate filing period for this year's elections ends Saturday.

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