Judge dismisses voter misconduct, perjury charges for Rinard felon who voted

By: 
Erin Sommers Graphic-Advocate Editor

Mark Hennings didn’t dispute that he cast a ballot in the November 2015 Rinard city elections.
Hennings, who lives in Rinard, testified on his own behalf Nov. 29, during a brief trial before District Court Judge Kurt Wilke at the Calhoun County Courthouse.
But, Hennings said, he told precinct workers that he had been convicted of a felony, and thought an order by former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack had restored his rights.
Wilke dismissed a perjury charge, which alleged Hennings knowingly signed an oath that he was eligible to vote when he was not, and a voter misconduct charge, because he was a felon without voting rights who cast a ballot. Wilke pointed to language Hennings used at the voting precinct, in which he indicated he thought his rights had been restored, but didn’t say definitively that they had been.
“That leaves a little gray area,” Wilke said. “My feeling is, in our jury instructions, we always talk about reasonable doubt. If you’re unsure, that’s reasonable doubt. That’s how I feel about this case.”
Read more in the Dec. 7 edition. 

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