Clark County auditor dismisses voter registration challenge against John Ley

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey dismisses a voter registration challenge against John Ley, citing a lack of credible evidence. — Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey (left) dismisses a voter registration challenge against John Ley (right), citing a lack of credible evidence.

The challenge, initiated by Democratic activist Geoffrey Munson, alleged that Ley did not reside in the 18th Legislative District

VANCOUVER – In a decisive ruling Thursday, Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey dismissed a voter registration challenge filed against John Ley, Republican candidate for state representative in the 18th Legislative District.

The challenge, initiated by Democratic activist Geoffrey Munson, alleged that Ley did not reside in the district. After a hearing on Oct. 3, where Munson presented his case and was cross-examined by Ley’s attorney Angus Lee, the auditor found the claims lacked credible evidence.

In his ruling, Kimsey wrote, “Munson’s statements and evidence are lacking in specificity,” and noted that Munson had failed to provide clear and convincing evidence to support his claims. “Munson did not provide a record of the dates and times he visited the locations, and the photographs he provided were not clear and convincing evidence.”

Lee, the Vancouver attorney representing Ley, argued that the challenge was not about verifying the legitimacy of a single voter but was an attempt to disenfranchise the 16,590 voters who supported Ley in the August primary election. “The allegations against Mr. Ley are entirely without merit,” Lee asserted, emphasizing that John Ley has been a long-standing resident of the 18th Legislative District.

Munson had claimed that Ley’s residence was unfurnished, a point that was strongly refuted by Lee with evidence showing the opposite.

“Munson had no basis for making such a claim, and he admitted during the hearing that he had never been in a position to observe whether the residence was furnished or not,” said Lee. He further noted that Munson’s credibility was compromised by his political motivations, aimed at influencing the outcome of the upcoming general election.

In the recent primary election, Ley won a decisive victory, defeating his Republican opponent by a 3-to-1 margin and securing his position as the Republican candidate with over 16,000 votes. Lee argued that Munson’s challenge was a politically motivated effort to manipulate the election in favor of John Zingale, Ley’s Democratic opponent.

During the hearing, Munson admitted he could not see inside Ley’s residence through the windows, yet claimed he could determine the apartment’s condition by looking through a patio door while standing on a green table outside. However, photos submitted after the hearing showed that from Munson’s vantage point, he could only have glimpsed the ceiling of one room, if the blinds were even open — hardly enough to substantiate a claim that the apartment was unfurnished.

“The apartment was, in fact, furnished,” Lee emphasized, “which undermines Mr. Munson’s testimony and calls into question the validity of all his observations. His sworn statement that the residence was unfurnished was not only inaccurate but impossible for him to verify.”

Lee stated that the ruling affirms the integrity of the election process and protects the rights of the voters who supported Ley.

Ley still faces charges from his 2022 candidacy for allegedly registering to vote and as a candidate in an incorrect voter district.