Dallas Elections Judge Removed By Federal Officials

The federal observer was one of two sent to the precinct based on past allegations of voting irregularities, sheriff's Sgt. Don Peritz Jr. said. Helms was replaced and the observers remained at the polling place.

Helms was not arrested and prosecutors were deciding whether to charge him with a crime.

Elections observers tried to enter the polling place at the Wellington Apartments in North Dallas at about 6:30 a.m. Helms told the observers they could wait until 7 a.m. like the rest of the public. When an observer said they wanted to watch Helms set up, he pushed her out the door.

The elections team notified the Dallas County Sheriff's Department. Helms was asked to leave the premises, and he did leave peacefully. The sheriff's office will refer charges of misdemeanor assault to the Dallas County district attorney, but he was not arrested.

The elections observers were there because the Department of Justice has gotten complaints of voters being denied the right to vote in the past.

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