A Florida attorney is accused of fraudulently applying to register to vote in Georgia so he could vote in next month’s U.S. Senate runoff elections.

The secretary of state’s office alleged Thursday that Bill Price told members of the Bay County Florida Republican Party that he was planning to move in with his brother in Georgia so he could register and vote in the Jan. 5 runoff elections. Price, the office says, then encouraged others in attendance to “be his roommate in Georgia” and register to vote.

The secretary of state’s office investigated Price and found that he attempted to register to vote, but the registration was pending.

“Those who move to Georgia just to vote in the Senate runoffs with no intention of staying are committing a felony that is punishable with jail time and hefty fines,” Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement. “They will be found, they will be investigated, and they will be punished.”

The country is watching Georgia’s two runoff elections — Republican incumbent U.S. Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue versus Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, respectively — as national Republicans try to hold on to control of the Senate. Republicans currently hold 52 seats, and if both Warnock and Ossoff win, Democratic Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would be the tiebreaking vote to give Democrats the edge.

Raffensperger has repeatedly discouraged people from coming to Georgia just to register and vote.

Last week, Raffensperger announced that he was investigating voter registration groups that he alleges have sent applications to people in other states.

Raffensperger said one group sent applications to people in New York City. Another tried to register a dead Alabama woman. Two other groups also sent improper applications, the secretary said.

Groups that were contacted denied the accusations.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Former state Rep. Vernon Jones, a former state representative and DeKalb County CEO, has joined a crowded field of Republicans seeking the job of Georgia secretary of state. (Olivia Bowdoin for the AJC)

Credit: Olivia Bowdoin

Featured

A native of Columbus and a fine arts graduate of Clark Atlanta, Amy Sherald was chosen as the official portrait artist of former first lady Michelle Obama. On the same week that the portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, it was also announced that Sherald was awarded the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Credit: Andrew Harnik