GRAND RAPIDS — An Itasca County woman charged with three felony counts of absentee voter fraud pleaded not guilty Wednesday, May 21.
Danielle Miller, 40, of rural Nashwauk allegedly attempted to vote for her dead mother before the November election. Miller was charged in October with two counts of intentionally making or signing a false certificate and one count of casting an illegal vote. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.
The Itasca County Auditor’s Office flagged the ballots for fraud based on the signatures.
According to the criminal complaint, Miller told an Itasca County sheriff's lieutenant she filled out her mother’s ballot, signed her mother’s name on the envelope and signed her mother’s name as a witness on her own ballot.
Miller allegedly said her mother was "an avid Donald Trump supporter" and wanted to vote for him, but died before their ballots came. According to the Minnesota Vital Statistics Death Report of Itasca County, Miller's mother died Aug. 31.
Miller’s next appearance is in August.
