By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

More than 70 people have claimed a Walnut Hills tailoring shop as their home address while registering to vote, leading the Hamilton County Board of Elections to subpoena the tailor, who is a candidate for Cincinnati City Council.

Larry J. Frazier, who's running without a major party endorsement, has set a goal of registering 25,000 new voters. A campaign flier asks people to come to his campaign headquarters, in the same building as Old School Custom Tailoring, to "update their right to vote."

Board of Elections Director Julia A. Stautberg said elections officials started raising questions after receiving dozens of voter registration cards with "29741/2 Gilbert Ave." pre-printed on them.

About half of the cards were for new voters. The rest were change-of-address cards from already registered Hamilton County voters, Stautberg said.

By signing the cards, voters certify that they are residents of a certain ward and precinct. Election falsification is a fifth degree felony, punishable by up to a year in prison.

The Board of Elections hearing next Wednesday will determine whether there's evidence of voter fraud. If so, the case will be referred to Hamilton County Prosecutor Michael K. Allen.

Reached by phone Tuesday, Frazier refused to comment, saying he would only grant interviews to reporters in person with an appointment. He did not call back to confirm an appointment.

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com