Henzel Said It Was “Unwise Legislation” To Allow Voters To Vote Without ID By Signing An Affirmation Of Identify

Henzel Said It Was ‘Unwise Legislation’ To Allow Voters To Vote Without ID By Signing An Affirmation Of Identity. According to the County of Fairfax Electoral Board’s meeting minutes from September 6, 2022, Henzel “expressed concern about ‘unwise legislation,’ specifically, the ability to vote without an identification by using the Affirmation of Identity, as well as no real capability to confirm the address an individual provides on the voter registration application. These two elements now intersect with same-day registration. Mr. Henzel stated that he hoped the November election will run smoothly, but at some future election, some political element may find the temptation to exploit these vulnerabilities too hard to resist.” [County of Fairfax Electoral Board Meeting Minutes, 9/6/22]

Henzel Directed Fairfax County Staff To “Carefully Consider” A Memo Submitted By The Fairfax County Election Integrity Task Force

As Board Chair, Henzel Directed Staff To ‘Carefully Consider’ A Memo Submitted By The Chair Of The Fairfax County Election Integrity Task Force, Alleging Ties Between The Polling Software Company Used In Fairfax County And The Chinese Government. According to the County of Fairfax Electoral Board meeting minutes from September 6, 2022, Christine Brim, chair of the Fairfax County Election Integrity Task Force, “submitted a memo to the Electoral Board titled ‘Konnech Links to Chinese Software Engineers, Chinese Companies, and Chinese ‘People’s Congress’’ [...] Given that Fairfax County utilizes Konnech’s PollChief for their election officer and polling location management system, she requested a response from the Board. [Board Chair] Henzel requested the staff to consider the memo carefully.” [County of Fairfax Electoral Board Meeting Minutes, 9/6/22]

Henzel Supported Clara Belle Wheeler’s Voter Registration Trainings

Henzel Expressed Support For The Voter Registration Tactics ‘Taught By Clara Belle Wheeler Of The Republican Party of Virginia.’ According to the County of Fairfax Electoral Board meeting minutes from July 21, 2022, a member of the public “asked the Board to respond to the following question, ‘In a training class taught by Clara Belle Wheeler with the Republican Party of Virginia, she taught that the Virginia Code specifically permits Registrars to receive citizen requests/statements in response to jury duty summons. She also taught that there is no prohibition on the Registrars use of that information for application to the Voter rolls.’” [County of Fairfax Electoral Board Meeting Minutes, 7/21/22]

Henzel Was “Disappointed That ELECT Has Given Some Guidance That Fairfax Conty Should Not” Follow Wheeler’s Training Specifics. “Mr. Henzel responded that he is disappointed that ELECT has given some guidance that Fairfax County should not do this. He added that he is pleased that Mr. Spicer will continue his debate with ELECT regarding this issue.” [County of Fairfax Electoral Board Meeting Minutes, 7/21/22]

• Clara Belle Wheeler Claimed Democrats Participated In ‘Massive, Well-Organized, Well-Orchestrated Voter Fraud.’ According to the Winchester Star on September 8, 2017, “Dr. Clara Belle Wheeler, vice chairwoman of the Virginia State Board of Elections in Richmond, spoke to the Winchester-Frederick-Clarke Republican Women’s Club about voter fraud during a meeting at the Winchester Country Club on Wednesday. ‘Massive, well-organized, well-orchestrated voter fraud … happens every day,’ Wheeler, a real estate developer in the Charlottesville area, told the group. She said it is a tactic of the Democratic Party.” [The Winchester Star, 9/8/17]
• Wheeler ‘Expressed Support For President Donald Trump’s Election Integrity Commission.’ According to the Winchester Star on September 8, 2017, “Wheeler expressed support for President Donald Trump’s Election Integrity Commission, which has requested the voting information, including party affiliation and voting records, from all 50 states. Some states, including Virginia, have refused to provide the information, which Wheeler said is a mistake.” [The Winchester Star, 9/8/17]
• The Virginia Democratic Party Called On Wheeler To Resign Her Role On The State Board Of Elections For Spreading Disinformation About Voter Fraud. According to the Virginia Democrats, “Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker today called for Dr. Clara Belle Wheeler to resign her position as vice chairwoman of the Virginia State Board of Elections. ‘In a deliberate effort to shake voters’ faith in the electoral process, Clara Belle Wheeler has made patently false allegations of massive and widespread voter fraud,’ said Swecker. ‘These baseless allegations are intended to dissuade people from exercising their fundamental right to vote. Undermining the very electoral system with which she is entrusted is a dereliction of duty, and actively advocating for the election of Republicans while overseeing the election system is a conflict of interest. We call for her immediate resignation today.’” [Virginia Democrats, Accessed 6/30/23]

Henzel Opined That “There Is No Way To Know How Often” Non-Citizens Voted In Virginia

Henzel Was ‘Interested’ In The Issue Of Non-Citizens Attempting To Vote And ‘Opined That There Is No Way To Know How Often It Happens.’ According to the County of Fairfax Electoral Board meeting minutes from May 12, 2022, a member of the public “asked about the scope of the problem regarding non-citizens attempting to vote given the level of concern that has been expressed at the last several Board meetings. Mr. Henzel noted that he is interested in this issue but did not offer any numbers. [...] Mr. Henzel expressed concern that DMV’s process is essentially based on the honor system, and as such, creates a potential vulnerability. While it has been established that there aren’t that many cases where this has been discovered, he opined that there is no way to know how often it happens because it is ‘hard to know.’” [County of Fairfax Electoral Board Meeting Minutes, 5/12/22]

• Henzel Opined That The Felony Penalty For Falsifying Voter Applicants’ Citizenship Information Was Insufficient And A ‘Weakness In The System.’ According to the County of Fairfax Electoral Board meeting minutes from April 14, 2022, a member of the public “asked how vital information (citizenship, SSN, address) will be confirmed for same-day registration. Mr. Spicer responded that guidance from ELECT is forthcoming on how to process individuals who register on Election Day. Ms. Ardalan said VERIS does not confirm citizenship and if all information is provided on the application and the application is signed, it will be processed. Ms. Lawton commented that the voter registration application is signed under felony penalty for any false information. Mr. Henzel opined that lacking a method to verify citizenship is a ‘weakness in the system’ and suggested the issue might be raised with elected officials in Richmond.” [County of Fairfax Electoral Board Meeting Minutes, 4/14/22]

Henzel Was Skeptical Of The Security Of Third-Party Voter Registrations

Henzel Expressed Skepticism Regarding The Security Of Virginia’s Procedure For Allowing Third-Party Voter Registrations. According to the County of Fairfax Electoral Board meeting minutes from April 14, 2022, “Mr. Henzel asked how staff identifies ‘third-party’ voter registrations. Ms. Ardalan explained that third-party voter registrations must be delivered in person. When the applications are delivered, the third-party representative logs in the registrations and provides their name and phone number. The voter registrations are then recorded as ‘T’ for third-party. Ms. Hanley added that to conduct a third-party registration, the third party must also register for and complete required training. With respect to absentee ballot applications, Ms. Ardalan explained that a third party can mail an application to a voter, however, the voter must mail in the completed application. Mr. Henzel commented that the office would have no way of knowing whether an absentee ballot application received this way had with the help of a third Party.” [County of Fairfax Electoral Board Meeting Minutes, 4/14/22]