California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres. Photo by Randy Bayne

A spokesperson for the Democratic National Party on Tuesday accused Republicans of “absolute hypocrisy,” after the the owner of a company paid by the California Republican Party to register voters was arrested on fraud and perjury charges. Prosecutors are investigating claims that his firm, Young Political Majors, intentionally re-registered Democrats as Republicans — without their knowledge or consent.

The news comes as national Republicans were already retreating from charges of voter fraud in New Mexico.

Mark Jacoby, the firm’s owner, was arrested on Saturday night and charged with two felony counts of perjury and two counts of voter registration fraud. According to Reuters, he is accused of registering to vote at the address of his parents’ former home twice, once in 2006 and again in 2007, hence the two counts of each charge. Jacoby apparently registered himself in California in order to be able to collect voter registrations in that state.

Some California Republicans cried foul after the arrest, but prosecutors say their actions are not politically motivated. The California Secretary of State is a Democrat, but the Los Angeles County District Attorney, in charge of prosecuting the case, is a Republican.

But the case involves more than just Jacoby registering people. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported:

Dozens of newly minted Republican voters say they were duped into joining the party by a GOP contractor with a trail of fraud complaints stretching across the country.

Voters contacted by The Times said they were tricked into switching parties while signing what they believed were petitions for tougher penalties against child molesters. Some said they were told that they had to become Republicans to sign the petition, contrary to California initiative law. Others had no idea their registration was being changed.

It is a bait-and-switch scheme familiar to election experts. The firm hired by the California Republican Party — a small company called Young Political Majors, or YPM, which operates in several states — has been accused of using the tactic across the country.

Election officials and lawmakers have launched investigations into the activities of YPM workers in Florida and Massachusetts. In Arizona, the firm was recently a defendant in a civil rights lawsuit. Prosecutors in Los Angeles and Ventura counties say they are investigating complaints about the company.

The firm, which a Republican Party spokesman said is paid $7 to $12 for each registration it secures, has denied any wrongdoing and says it has never been charged with a crime.

Young Political Majors has apparently used similar tactics in Arizona and Florida.

While voters whose affiliation was changed will still be able to cast votes for whomever they please, Democrats are worried that the charges will hamper their get-out-the-vote efforts, according to California Democratic Party chair Art Torres.

“This incredible enthusiasm, interest and energy that we’ve seen from voters is a good thing. The bad thing is that GOP is trying to turn this into confusion and chaos,” DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney said in a conference call held late Tuesday. “We’re asking them to cut it out!”

Asked by NMI whether he viewed the arrest as evidence of a concerted effort by the Republican party to prevent Democrats from voting, DNC General Counsel Joe Sandler demurred, saying,  ”I don’t think anybody’s alleging a vast conspiracy here.”

But it was apparent that the Democrats were relishing the opportunity to turn the tables. ”Where is the outrage from the RNC and the McCain campaign now?” Finney asked.