The last day to register to vote for the November elections is October 4th, and while it's easy to get involved and register - one Beaumont man says it's too easy - and decided to prove it.
Eighty-eight year-old Charles Henson had an idea last week - after he noticed how easy it was for his caretaker to register to vote.
So to prove a point - he registered for a second time under his address with a nickname - Charlie Brown. He says what came in the mail shocked him.
It's familiar to people who grew up with Snoopy and Charlie Brown - and 88 year-old Charles Henson believes that should have set off alarm bells, and prevented a voter ID card from being sent to a person who doesn't exist at his address.
"If I could casually and very easily walk into the courthouse and register anybody I want to to vote - someone else can do it too" said Henson.
And that's exactly what Henson did, but under his nickname, Charlie Brown.
He said he filled out a voter registration card with no ID - just a signature. A few days later - he had Charlie Brown's voter ID card.
"Everyone needs to take this process very seriously" said interim Jefferson County Tax Assessor and Collector Susie James.
James said the registration process is meant to bee easy - and that voter fraud is not a joke.
"That's terribly wrong. And once we know somebody has completed the application with fraudulent information - it will be turned over to the DA's office right away" said James.
James said signing on the application constitutes a sworn affidavit by the applicant - who promises that all information given is accurate.
But Henson says not so fast.
"So perhaps the courthouse is doing what they do on the assumption that everybody that walks up to that desk is honest - well they're not" said Henson.
And while his name has been turned over to the district attorney's office on accusations of perjury, Henson remains un-apologetic. He said he's willing to take the punishment so his voice can be heard.
"Any retaliation on an 88 year-old WWII veteran who is legally blind and 70% deaf - be my guest" said Henson.
And even though the Jefferson County Tax Assessor doesn't have an employee who actively looks for fraudulent registrations, the Texas Secretary of State's Office said anyone who registers to vote without presenting any ID is red-flagged at the pole and not allowed to vote without presenting the proper ID.
The punishment for falsifying information on a voter registration application includes imprisonment up to 180 days and/or a fine of up to $2,000.
