Former Buffalo-area legislator accused of illegally videotaping early voting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WGRZ/WHEC) — New York Attorney General Letitia James is demanding officials in Erie County look into claims of illegal voting practices.

Our Buffalo affiliate, WGRZ, got ahold of a letter sent to the Erie County Board of Elections which describes the Oct. 23 incident as “voter intimidation.”

The office is investigating claims that early voting booths were illegally videotaped by former legislator Betty Jean Grant (D). She shared the video of an older voter getting help to cast her ballot, thinking that the practice is illegal. It is not.

WGRZ reports Grant has already been banned from polling places for the rest of the 2021 election.

The Erie County District Attorney’s Office is investigating as well.

Grant told WGRZ that she thought what she did was right.