Milford, Pa.- Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin announced the sentencing of a Pike County man for violations relating to Absentee/Mail-in Ballots. Jerome Covart, age 67, of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, previously pleaded guilty to Violations Relating to Absentee/Mail-in Ballots. Pike County President Judge Gregory H. Chelak sentenced Covart to pay a fine of $500.00.

On October 29, 2025, the Pike County Criminal Investigation Division was assigned to investigate a fraudulent ballot that was received by the Pike County Board of Elections. The Pike County Criminal Investigation Division reviewed a list of voter’s names, addresses and signatures registered in the Matamoras area and observed similarities in Covart’s signature. Covart was interviewed and confirmed that the signature on the mail-in ballot was his. The mail-in ballot was in another person’s name and was delivered to Covart by mistake and then Covart filled in the ballot meant for another voter.

District Attorney Tonkin commented “The ability by the voter, who the ballot was intended for, to check on the status of their ballot was instrumental in alerting the Board of Elections to this improper use of the ballot. My office will always cooperate with the Board of Elections to discover any reported fraudulent use of any mail-in ballot.  This incident should be a warning that a person will be prosecuted for the improper use of mail-in ballots in Pike County.”