Union County deputy circuit clerk accused of voter fraud

Rhonda Wilhite Dowdy, Union County deputy circuit clerk, was arrested on July 6, 2015. According to information from Attorney General Jim Hood’s office, she is accused of  voter fraud. The charge is connected to alleged alteration of a voter’s address to make it appear that the voter lives in Union County. This was allegedly done in exchange for their voting for a particular candidate.

Dowdy, who has been an employee in the Circuit Clerk’s office since 1987, is charged with a single count of voter fraud.  Conviction of the charge could bring up to two years in prison.

Phyllis Stanford, Union County Circuit Clerk, said today (Thursday, June 9th) that Dowdy is “still an employee, as of today,”  but that it “is a day to day situation.”

Tippah County Sheriff’s deputies served the warrant, along with officers of the Attorney General’s Public Integrity division.  Dowdy was booked into the Tippah County Jail, and released on her own recognizance.

The Union County Grand Jury will hear the charges against Dowdy when it is next convened.

No further information was given as to specifics of the charge against Dowdy, or of whether there may be possible additional charges placed or arrests made.