SUPERIOR – An Oakland man is accused of trying to vote while serving time for a felony conviction.

Keith Christopher James Landrith, 42, faces one count of attempted voter fraud – voting by a disqualified person and one count of voter fraud – falsely obtaining voter registration.

He made his initial appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court on Monday, Nov. 11. A $5,000 signature bond was set for Landrith, who has pleaded not guilty to the crime.

Landrith filled out paperwork to register the same day at a polling place in the city of Oakland on Nov. 5, despite being a felon ineligible to vote. He checked all the boxes, including one that said he was “not currently serving a sentence, including incarceration, parole, probation, or extended supervision for a felony conviction.”

He was issued a ballot and went to vote, according to the criminal complaint. Someone at the precinct knew Landrith was a felon and asked him if he could vote. City Clerk Laurie Dolsen confirmed that his name is on the list of ineligible voters. When the chief election inspector challenged Landrith, he left his incomplete ballot in the booth. It was not counted.

Landrith is on probation for multiple felonies, according to the criminal complaint. He was convicted of identity theft and felon in possession of a firearm in Douglas County and possession of methamphetamine in Rusk County, online records show.

On Sept. 17, Landrith signed his current terms of supervision, one of which specifically tells him not to vote “in any federal, state or local election,” according to information obtained by Detective Sgt. Ed Gallagher of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Landrith told Gallagher he thought he could vote because the law had changed.

Election fraud is a Class I felony that carries a maximum penalty of three years and six months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Landrith’s next court appearance is set for Nov. 19.

There have been three voter fraud cases filed in Douglas County in the past 10 years, according to the Douglas County Coroner’s Office.

Bridget Mary Graves,

54, of Superior, was convicted of voter fraud for voting in the Nov. 8, 2016, election while on felony probation. Her probation was supposed to end a week after the election, on Nov. 15, according to the criminal complaint. Graves pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 80 days in jail, a $50 fine and court costs.

In January 2024,

Steven James Stupak

pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of election fraud-falsifying voter registration for entering a former address on his 2020 Superior School Board candidate form instead of his current address.

Maria Lockwood covers Douglas County, Wis. news for the Superior Telegram.