Three people have been charged in a state investigation into voter fraud during the 2016 city of Hidalgo runoff election, according to a news release from Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office.
Marcela Gutiterrez, a non-citizen, has recently been charged with illegal voting, a second-degree felony. Gutierrez’s fellow campaign workers— identified as Sylvia Arjona and Sara Ornelas— have been charged with seven counts of unlawfully assisting a voter, a Class A misdemeanor, according to the news release.
According to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, Gutierrez marked a ballot without a voter’s consent.
The news release states:
“She led the voter to believe she was demonstrating use of a voting machine, but instead cast votes on the voter’s ballot for a slate of candidates Gutierrez had been paid to support.”
Gutierrez also faces 10 misdemeanor counts of unlawfully assisting a voter.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office has referred 18 separately filed cases against the three women for prosecution to the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office.
The case remains under investigation.
The charges comes after the arrests of five people in connection with an investigation into a voter fraud scheme during the 2017 Edinburg election.
Related stories:
- Fifth person arrested in connection with Edinburg voter fraud investigation
- Texas AG’s Office urging people to come forward regarding 2017 Edinburg voter fraud case
