Wisconsin Conservative Activist Found Guilty of Election Fraud: 'I Would Do It Again'
A Wisconsin conservative activist was found guilty of election fraud on Tuesday night, making headlines with his bold declaration that he would repeat his actions. Harry Wait, 71, a prominent figure in the movement supporting President Donald Trump’s 2020 election claims, expressed no remorse during an interview with local news station WTMJ-TV.
“When you poke the bear you get that type of outcome, yes. I would do it again,” Wait stated, asserting that he had merely “tested the system” which he claimed ultimately failed him.
The conviction stems from Wait's actions in 2022 when he requested absentee ballots for Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Democratic Racine Mayor Cory Mason to be sent to his address, using their personal identification information without consent, as detailed in a criminal complaint reviewed by WISN.
Co-founder of HOT Government, an organization advocating for government transparency, Wait argued that his intent was to expose vulnerabilities in the MyVote system. His actions have since turned him into a controversial figure among supporters who don “Free Harry” T-shirts and military-style dog tags at rallies.
American Oversight, a liberal watchdog group, criticized Wait’s organization for promoting “fringe theories” regarding the 2020 election. A Wisconsin judge previously ruled in 2022 that there was “absolutely no evidence of election fraud” related to that election.
While Wait did not receive Vos’ ballot, he did obtain Mason’s and subsequently turned it in to authorities days later. “I didn’t want to take away their voting rights, even though I don’t like them,” he remarked during his trial, emphasizing his belief that he wasn’t stealing votes.
Prosecutors contended that Wait’s actions were motivated by a desire for “attention or notoriety,” aiming to create a “spectacle.” During the trial, he insisted, “It’s not about me. You got your story all misinformed. It’s about the Republic.”
In closing arguments, prosecutors reminded the jury, “You don’t get to break the law to show that the law can be broken.” Court records indicate that Wait was convicted on one felony count of identity theft and two misdemeanor counts of election fraud, while acquitted on a second identity theft charge.
Attempts to reach Wait’s attorney for comment were unsuccessful. According to HOT Government, his sentencing is set for May 27. The organization released a statement on X following the verdict, questioning whether citizens should face penalties for exposing potential weaknesses in governance systems.
“At a time when concerns about election processes are often dismissed or ignored, he took action to test the system,” the statement read. “Whether one agrees with his methods or not, his actions sparked a conversation that cannot be ignored.”
