Philip C. Pulley, a 62-year-old resident of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, is facing federal charges for alleged voting irregularities in recent elections. The U.S. attorney's office in Philadelphia has filed five charges against Pulley, accusing him of violating federal election law through false voter registration, double voting, and election fraud.
The charges stem from Pulley's alleged actions during the 2020 presidential election and the November 2022 election. Prosecutors claim that Pulley voted in both Florida and Pennsylvania in 2020, and twice in Pennsylvania during the 2022 election, which included a U.S. Senate race.
According to the allegations, Pulley used a false Philadelphia address and Social Security number to register in Philadelphia in 2020, despite already being registered in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and Broward County, Florida. He reportedly requested a mail-in ballot in Philadelphia and voted in both Montgomery and Broward counties that year.
The case brings attention to the rarity of voter fraud incidents in U.S. elections. A review published by The Associated Press in December 2021 found fewer than 475 potential cases of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by former President Donald Trump following the 2020 election. This number was insufficient to have altered the outcome of his reelection defeat.
Pulley's voting history, as described by federal prosecutors, spans from 2005 to 2023. He allegedly used his Huntingdon Valley address in Montgomery County to vote for many years. In 2018, he reportedly registered in Broward County, Florida, using an address in Lighthouse Point.
Pennsylvania voting records indicate that Pulley was registered as a Republican in Montgomery County from the 1990s until changing his affiliation to the Democratic Party in 2023. In February 2020, he registered as a Democrat in Philadelphia, where he reportedly voted in general elections in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The U.S. election system is decentralized, with each state managing its own elections. This case highlights the challenges in maintaining accurate voter rolls across state lines. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 aimed to increase voter participation while maintaining accurate records, but cases like Pulley's demonstrate ongoing difficulties in preventing multiple registrations and votes.
Voter fraud is considered a felony in most states, punishable by fines and imprisonment. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 established minimum election administration standards, and many states have implemented voter ID laws to prevent fraud. However, the balance between preventing fraud and ensuring voter access remains a topic of ongoing debate.
As of the report, Pulley did not have a lawyer listed in court records, and attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of election integrity and the ongoing efforts to maintain fair and accurate voting processes in the United States.