In an age when everyone is terrified of corruptable e-voting, it’s somehow heartwarming to be reminded that there’s still room for good, old-fashioned ballot-stuffing and strong-arm tactics.

Raymond Villarreal, Precinct 4 commissioner for Refugio County, pleaded guilty this morning to tampering with a governmental record, a state felony with 90 days in jail and a $1,500 fine attached. It comes out of his attempt to hijack the 2006 Democratic primaries.

The Attorney General’s office called it a complicated scheme and they’re not exaggerating. Here’s how it worked: Villarreal got hold of a bunch of mail-in ballot applications. He would then take them to voters’ homes, and get them to sign off. However, they would leave the address section bank. Villarreal would fill it in for them – with the address of one of his out-of-district supporters. When they received the absentee ballot for the election, Villarreal would pick them up and hand-deliver them to the real voter. Then he’d stand over them while they filled them out. So, no pressure or coercion at all.

This article appears in October 5 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.