Election Fraud Cases

Change State Change State

Copied

Refining Filters +

Refine by State

Refine by Disposition Year

Refine by Type of case

Refine by Type of fraud

See Keys & Definitions

StateNew MexicoYear2020NameDyon HerreraCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Dyon Hererra, of Espanola, conspired with Laura Seeds to falsify absentee ballots in support of Seeds' husband's candidacy for mayor in 2016. Hererra forged the signatures of his grandparents on absentee ballots. The candidate that he casted the ballots in favor of won the race by two votes. Herrera was charged with conspiracy to violate the municipal election code of Espanola, a fourth degree felony, and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 18 months probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3l1iAJf , https://herit.ag/3i9ub7o, Case no. D-117-CR-201800047

StateNew MexicoYear2020NameLaura SeedsCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Laura Seeds, of Espanola, conspired with Dyon Herrera to falsify several absentee ballots in favor of Seeds' husband, a city councilman who was running for mayor in 2016. Seeds was charged with two counts of making false statements relative to the municipal election code, one count of conspiracy to violate the municipal election code, and ten counts of possession of another person's absentee ballot. Seeds was found guilty of two counts of making false statements relative to the municipal election code and two counts of possession of another person's absentee ballot, which are all fourth degree felonies. She was sentenced to six months of house arrest, followed by five years of supervised probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f4YnhM, Case no. D-117-CR-201800048,

StateNew MexicoYear2015NameEugene W. VictorCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeImpersonation Fraud At The Polls

Eugene Victor wanted to prove a point about the potential for fraud in New Mexico elections by committing fraud himself. Mr. Victor cast a ballot in his son's name and later turned himself in to the authorities. He pleaded no contest to a fourth-degree felony charge of false voting and is serving 18 months' probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3jG7WWR, https://herit.ag/3ExTzft

StateNew MexicoYear2013NameSilvia GomezCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Silvia Gomez pleaded guilty to voter fraud in connection a Sunland Park municipal election in which she registered people she knew to be ineligible to vote in Sunland Park. She was sentenced to three years' probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rK1aCf

StateNew MexicoYear2012NamePriscilla MoralesCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Priscilla Morales, the public works director's in Sunland Park, but an El Paso resident, registered to vote in Doa Ana County, and voted in Sunland Park's municipal elections by using former City Councilor Angelica Marquez's home address. She pleaded guilty to false voting and conspiracy to commit a crime. She was sentenced to 18 months of probation and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/2VbUjW0

StateNew MexicoYear2009NameHoracio FavelaCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Horacio Favela, a former Sunland Park Municipal Judge, was convicted of falsely declaring himself a resident of Sunland Park in 2008 so he could run for his judgeship, falsifying a document that declared him a qualified voter, and voting twice in the 2004 general election--once in El Paso, Texas and once in Doa Ana County. Favela was convicted of four counts related to his voter fraud charges. He was sentenced to 18 months' probation and ordered to take two introductory government classes and deliver a speech to school children on civic and electoral rights and responsibilities.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zG2Z5R

StateNew MexicoYear2009NameTeresa MonahanCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Teresa Monahan, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to voter fraud in a referendum election for casting her own vote and then seeking to vote by an absentee ballot for her deceased brother. She was convicted of a fourth degree felony and entered into a diversion program that stipulates if she complies with the terms of her probation, the charge will be erased from her record. She was sentenced to between nine and 18 months on probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3710FKw

StateNew MexicoYear1998NameGillian YinglingCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Gillian Yingling and 18 others, of Rio Arriba County, including several local officials, were arrested on election-fraud charges, including ineligible absentee voting and false statements on absentee ballots. Yingling pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor voter fraud charge, receiving 364 days' supervised probation.

Source: bit.ly/2fL3qH7

Key & Definitions

Types of Cases

Criminal Conviction

Any case that results in a defendant entering a plea of guilty or no contest, or being found guilty in court of election-related offenses.

Judicial Finding

A finding by a court of law that fraud occurred in an election, including judicial orders overturning election results or ordering a new election due to fraud.

Civil Penalty

Any civil case resulting in fines or other penalties imposed for a violation of election laws.

Official Finding

A finding by a government body that fraud occurred in an election, including orders overturning election results or ordering a new election due to fraud.

Diversion Program

Any criminal case in which a judge directs a defendant into a pre-trial diversion program, or stays or defers adjudication with the understanding that the conviction will be cleared upon completion of the program.

Types of Voter Fraud

Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Requesting absentee ballots and voting without the knowledge of the actual voter; or obtaining the absentee ballot from a voter and either filling it in directly and forging the voter’s signature or illegally telling the voter who to vote for.

Ineligible Voting

Illegal registration and voting by individuals who are not U.S. citizens, are convicted felons, or are otherwise not eligible to vote.

Impersonation Fraud At The Polls

Voting in the name of other legitimate voters and voters who have died, moved away, or lost their right to vote because they are felons, but remain registered.

Buying Votes

Paying voters to cast either an in-person or absentee ballot for a particular candidate.

Ballot Petition Fraud

Forging the signatures of registered voters on the ballot petitions that must be filed with election officials in some states for a candidate or issue to be listed on the official ballot

Duplicate Voting

Registering in multiple locations and voting in the same election in more than one jurisdiction or state.

False Registrations

Voting under fraudulent voter registrations that either use a phony name and a real or fake address or claim residence in a particular jurisdiction where the registered voter does not actually live and is not entitled to vote.

Altering The Vote Count

Changing the actual vote count either in a precinct or at the central location where votes are counted.

Illegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Forcing or intimidating voters—particularly the elderly, disabled, illiterate, and those for whom English is a second language—to vote for particular candidates while supposedly providing them with “assistance.”