(Dan Burdish) – A small-town mayor’s race in Alabama is now at the center of a growing voter fraud case.
A grand jury indicted three women accused of submitting dozens of fraudulent absentee ballots. The indictments were handed down February 26 in Monroe County, Alabama.
BREAKING: Two Monroe County, Alabama Court employees indicted on VOTER FRAUD charges after they allegedly submitted DOZENS of fake absentee ballots. pic.twitter.com/9SpVprkQiB
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 10, 2026
Prosecutors say the alleged scheme involved at least 29 fraudulent absentee ballots in the August 2025 mayoral election in the small town of Frisco City, Alabama.
The race was close. The winner took office by just 90 votes.
The three women charged are Sharon Densen, Samantha Kyles, and Sarah Bennett.
According to recent reporting by FOX10 News, two of the accused worked inside the court system. Kyles served as a judicial assistant and Bennett worked as a courthouse security guard.
Prosecutors say the women helped submit absentee ballots that should not have been counted. The case began after the losing candidate filed a lawsuit challenging the results of the election.
The lawsuit claimed more than 130 ballots may have been unlawful.
Investigators ultimately focused on 29 ballots that prosecutors say were fraudulent enough to support criminal charges.
All three women are registered Democrats, according to public voter records.
Absentee ballots are meant for voters who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day. They are widely used by military members, seniors, and people who are traveling or ill.
But critics have long warned that absentee systems can be vulnerable if safeguards are weak.
That’s one reason many conservatives continue to push for stronger election security measures.
Those include voter ID requirements, tighter controls on absentee ballots, and clearer chain-of-custody rules for ballots moving through the system.
Even small cases can matter in close races.
In the Frisco City election, the margin of victory was just 90 votes. Prosecutors say the alleged fraud involved 29 ballots.
Critics of election security concerns often argue that voter fraud is extremely rare.
But studies from groups such as the Heritage Foundation have documented hundreds of confirmed voter fraud cases across the United States over the past several decades. Most involve small local elections rather than presidential races.
Opponents of stricter election laws say these cases are still uncommon and should not be used to justify new restrictions that could make voting harder.
Conservatives retort that elections should be secure and trustworthy, even at the local level.
And when fraud does happen, it needs to be investigated and prosecuted.
The Alabama case is still moving through the courts, and the three women remain innocent until proven guilty.
But this debate isn't just happening in Alabama.
Cases like the one show why the issue keeps coming up.
Even in a small town election, a handful of questionable ballots can suddenly become a big story.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.