During a trial in which a Montgomery County man was accused of illegal voting in a special utility district, the defense counsel questioned the validity of two voters who were said by the state to have voted legally in the same election.

Like the defendant, the legal voters were temporary residents.

But, “they had money,” said David Glickler, the lawyer representing the state Attorney General’s office.

Such is the power in special districts around the state, often outposts of undeveloped land that are owned by developers, who in turn create mini-governments that tax new residents to cover the costs of development.