Woman off hook for registering dog to vote

TACOMA, Wash., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Charges have been dropped against a Seattle-area grandmother who registered her Australian shepherd-terrier mix to vote.

Jane Balogh of Federal Way, Wash., reached a plea agreement last year that required her to perform 10 hours of community service at the Tacoma Rescue Mission and to pay $240 in court costs. On Monday, a judge dismissed charges of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant.

Balogh said she registered her dog under the name Duncan M. Donald to demonstrate how easy voter fraud has become. She used a utility bill in the dog's name as identification for voter registration and to obtain an absentee ballot.

She did not vote in the dog's name and returned the ballot signed with a paw print.

Balogh said she was sad that no politicians have been in touch with her about her demonstration.

"I'm a nobody. I'm just a plain old lady who loves her country and nobody is responding," Balogh said. "What does it take to get somebody to listen?"