Former GOP Chairman, Radio Host Guilty of Voter Fraud

Published on December 07, 2017

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – Former KLZ radio talk show host and one-time chairman of the Colorado GOP Steve Curtis was found guilty today of forgery and voter fraud for signing his ex-wife’s ballot during the 2016 election.

Curtis, 58, was charged in February after DNA evidence and handwriting analysis linked him to Kelly Curtis’ ballot. According to court testimony, Kelly Curtis left the couples’ Firestone home in December 2015 and later moved to Charleston, South Carolina. In October 2016, Ms. Curtis called the Weld County Clerk and Recorder’s Office to obtain her mail-in ballot but was told she already voted.

Following an investigation by the Weld County District Attorney’s Office, investigators determined Steve Curtis forged his wife’s name on her ballot and mailed it to the clerk’s office. During trial, Curtis testified that he was suffering from a diabetic episode in the middle of the night when he signed the ballot. He claimed he unknowingly mailed the ballot the following day.

“He knew exactly what he was doing,” argued Deputy District Attorney Tate Costin during closing arguments. “He received it in the mail, opened it, voted, signed it, sealed it back up and sent it in. If he were going to sign a name during this confused diabetic state, wouldn’t he sign his own name? Why her name? She hadn’t even lived in the house for 11 months.”

Curtis will be sentenced on January 26 at 10:30 a.m. The forgery charge carries up to three years in prison.

“Voting is one of the most important rights we have as American citizens, and the defendant deliberately stole that right away from Ms. Curtis,” said District Attorney Michael Rourke. “He saw an opportunity to vote twice in one of the most important presidential elections in recent history and intentionally defrauded our system. No matter the political party you belong to, we must always stand up to those who strip away the rights of others.”