Three Monroe County, Alabama, residents have been arrested and face charges related to alleged ballot harvesting and improper leverage of absentee ballots during the August 26, 2025, Frisco City municipal election, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Friday.
Sarah Bennett, 60, Sharon Denson, 67, and Samantha Kyles, 46, are collectively charged with 17 counts of ballot harvesting and 20 counts of unlawful use of absentee ballots, according to the Attorney General’s office. The indictment alleges that each defendant falsified absentee ballot applications or verification documents and illegally collected ballots from multiple voters.
Unlawful use of absentee ballots is classified as a Class C felony in Alabama, carrying a potential sentence of one year and one day to ten years in prison. Ballot harvesting, defined as the unauthorized collection and submission of absentee ballots, is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail.
The arrests follow an investigation led by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division. While details of the investigation remain limited, the charges represent a significant development in the state’s efforts to safeguard election integrity.
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Division, and no further information regarding the specifics of the alleged crimes or the investigation has been released at this time.
This case occurs after a Russell County grand jury recently indicted individuals on 33 counts related to absentee ballot harvesting, signaling a broader focus on potential election fraud within the state.
