Rove Is Ruled Legal Voter in Texas

County Attorney Won't Prosecute

4 Nov 2005 // A Texas county official said Thursday he will not prosecute presidential adviser Karl Rove after investigating whether he voted illegally in the state.

Kerr County Attorney Rex Emerson said he made the decision after reviewing a report from the county sheriff, who examined documents from Texas, Washington and Florida and interviewed witnesses.

"The facts indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Rove are Texans living in Washington, D.C., during Mr. Rove's service to the federal government," Emerson said.

Emerson said in a statement there was no evidence of dual voting or falsified applications involving Rove, White House deputy chief of staff, and his wife, Darby.

Where Rove votes became an issue after The Washington Post reported in September that he received a homestead tax deduction on his Washington residence, while also claiming an exemption for a Texas residence he later sold.

The District changed its homestead exemption law to restrict the tax break only to people who voted in the city, and took blame for failing to inform Rove of the change in the law. Rove reimbursed the District about $3,400.

Rove is registered to vote in Kerr County, where his residence includes two cottages that are part of a bed-and-breakfast. He also recently built a home in Florida.

A Kerr County resident complained in a letter about Rove, which triggered the county attorney's investigation of whether the Roves had violated the Texas Election Code, a misdemeanor.

The Texas secretary of state has said that those who have moved out of state can vote in the state if they intend to return.