86-year-old charged with voter fraud in St. Peter

Published 10:40 am Thursday, March 7, 2013

ST. PETER — An 86-year-old woman diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and dementia has been charged with voter fraud.

Margaret Schneider said she forgot she had voted by absentee ballot in the 2012 primary election and about a month later, on Aug. 14, went to her polling place to vote. Now Schneider finds herself facing a felony charge and a court appearance April 2.

A police report notes the voter roster at Schneider’s polling place showed she had already voting absentee, but the election judge didn’t stop her from voting again.

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Schneider said if she’s convicted, the election judge should be convicted too for failing to stop her.

Nicollet County Attorney Michelle Zehnder Fischer said that in general, if there’s probable cause to show a crime occurred, she has to prosecute.