State Rep. John Ley, who was elected to the 18th District in November, pleaded guilty Friday to two charges of attempted voter violations: knowingly providing false information and candidacy declaration.
Ley, who was facing two felony voter fraud charges, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charges by way of an “in re Barr” plea, meaning he pleaded guilty to lesser related charges he didn’t commit to avoid the risk of conviction on a greater offense. Had Ley been convicted of a felony, he could have been ousted from his seat in the Legislature.
“I never intended to violate the law, nor do I believe that I have. I maintain my actual innocence,” Ley, 69, said in his statement to Clark County Judge John Fairgrieve.
Ley received a 364-day suspended sentence and will serve 12 months of probation.
Ley said he had been a resident of the 18th Legislative District for many years and had legally voted in several elections prior to the state drawing new district boundaries in 2022. The state’s redistricting efforts put Ley’s Camas home in the 17th District.
“During this period, I became deeply involved with issues important to the 18th Legislative District. After the legislative boundaries were adjusted, I was determined to maintain my lawful residence within the 18 District,” Ley said in his statement.
Ley was one of three Republicans to run for the 18th Legislative District Position 2 seat in 2022. About a month before filing to run, Ley changed the address on his voter registration from his Fremont Street home in Camas, to his friends’ Battle Ground address where he rented a room for $1 a month.
Ley was found to be ineligible for the office following a voter registration challenge filed by Vancouver resident Carolyn Crain. County Auditor Greg Kimsey upheld Crain’s challenge, stating Ley “did not state, or otherwise provide evidence, that he resides at the Battle Ground location.”
Prior to the hearing, Ley changed the address on his voter registration again — this time to an apartment on Hazel Dell Avenue, which is also in the 18th District. Crain and Vancouver resident Penny Ross took the matter to court, and a judge found Ley was ineligible to run for office in the 18th District.
When Ley filed to run for the same seat in 2024, his voter registration was again challenged, this time by Democratic activist Geoffrey Munson. Similar to the 2022 challenge, Munson claimed Ley did not live at the Hazel Dell apartment listed on his voter registration but still resided in Camas. Following a hearing, Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said Munson had not provided conclusive evidence and upheld Ley’s registration. Ley beat Democratic challenger John Zingale in the November general election.
In his statement Friday, Ley said he thoroughly researched his legal options and closely examined the 2017 voter registration challenge of Port of Vancouver commissioner candidate Don Orange, which upheld the candidate’s residency.
“I believed then, as I do now, that I was a lawfully qualified resident and candidate for the 18th District,” according to Ley’s statement. “I apologize for any confusion my registration and candidacy in 2022 may have caused.”
