Lafayette city council candidate arrested, denies harvesting ballots

LaFAYETTE, Ala. (WRBL) — Andrew Vines, a candidate for LaFayette’s District B city council seat is facing multiple misdemeanor allegations related to Alabama’s ballot harvesting laws after investigators say he illegally collected and mailed in absentee ballot applications for voters in his district.

According to the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office Vines was arrested Friday, August 8, following a weeks-long investigation into reports first made in mid-July. Monday, Vines told WRBL in a phone interview he is innocent. 

“I’ve been falsely accused. Around 60 people in my district applied for absentee ballots and needed assistance with the applications — not the ballots themselves. They signed their own applications. I brought them blank applications, and they filled them out. I did assist some with answering questions, which I am allowed to do. I also prepared the envelopes.”

The case began when investigators say a voter went to LaFayette City Hall and told the clerk Vines had filled out their absentee ballot application, had them sign it, and then took the form to mail it. The Chambers County District Attorney’s Office called in the Sheriff’s Office to investigate.

Captain Jeff Hinkle says multiple witnesses told investigators Vines went door-to-door in his district with absentee ballot applications, either encouraging residents to apply or filling them out for them. Some alleged he even signed voters’ names before taking the applications to mail. Investigators say they found around 50 envelopes with the same handwriting, along with evidence to support 15 misdemeanor counts of mailing in ballots for others, 11 misdemeanor counts of filling out ballots for others, and four misdemeanor forgery charges for signatures. 

Vines says according to Alabama Code § 17-11-4(b)(1), “Any applicant may receive assistance in filling out the application as he or she desires, but each application shall be manually signed by the applicant, under penalty of perjury, and if he or she signs by mark, the application shall also include the name of the witness and the witness’s signature.”

Alabama law allows absentee voting only for specific reasons, such as being out of town on Election Day, illness, or physical disability. It is illegal to distribute pre-filled absentee ballot applications or to submit an application on behalf of someone else, except in limited medical emergencies.

“I’m not off the ballot, I haven’t been proven guilty, and I didn’t do anything wrong. My main goal has always been to make sure everyone in my district has the chance to vote. On Election Day, if anyone needs a ride, I will provide it — as I have always done,” said Vines.

Under state law, misdemeanor charges do not disqualify a candidate from running for office. The city’s election for mayor and all five council seats is set for August 26, with voting at LaFayette High School from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A runoff, if needed, will be held September 23.

WRBL has reached out to Lafayette’s City Manager for further comment. The investigation is ongoing ahead of the election.