A Wisconsin jury has found a 71-year-old man guilty of election fraud and identity theft after he ordered absentee ballots using other people’s information without their permission, claiming he was testing the state’s election system for vulnerabilities.

Guilty Verdict in Racine County

Racine County jurors on Tuesday convicted Harry Wait on two misdemeanor election fraud charges and one felony identity theft charge following a two-day trial. Wait was acquitted of a second identity theft count. The 71-year-old faces up to six years in prison on the felony conviction and up to a year in jail on each misdemeanor charge. A sentencing date has not been scheduled. Wait’s attorney, Joe Bugni, did not respond to requests for comment on potential appeals.

Defendant Claims Public Service

Wait defended his actions as an attempt to expose flaws in Wisconsin’s election procedures. “I tested the system and the system failed,” he told reporters. He added that citizens should “expect to pay some costs sometimes when you are trying to work for the public good.” His self-described testing drew attention in 2022 when Republican Senator Ron Johnson praised Wait as a “white hat hacker,” a term typically used for ethical computer security experts who identify system vulnerabilities.

Election Security Concerns

The case highlights ongoing debates about election security and the proper methods for identifying potential weaknesses in voting systems. While Wait characterized his actions as beneficial public service, prosecutors successfully argued he broke state laws governing election procedures and identity protection. Wisconsin’s election system has faced intense scrutiny since the 2020 presidential election, with various groups raising questions about ballot security and verification processes. The conviction demonstrates that unauthorized testing of election systems, regardless of stated intentions, carries serious legal consequences under Wisconsin law.