MALTA, Mont. (NMB) – In a press release on Monday, the Phillips County Attorney’s office announced that two women have been charged with Deceptive Election Practices based on allegations concerning the 2021 Dodson municipal elections.
Grace O. Albia and Jannet Benitez Zeta have entered not guilty pleas and have had a public defender appointed on their behalf.
The release alleges that when Albia and Zeta were filling out voter registration forms on October 12th, 2021, they falsely declared that they were U.S. citizens. However, they are citizens of the Philippines living in Montana on work visas.
Law enforcement investigated the incident after several Dodson residents notified the County Clerk and Recorder that Albia and Zeta had voted in the election despite not being U.S. citizens.
The release says they refused to disclose the names of any person who encouraged them to register or vote in the election.
Their voter registrations were canceled last month, and a trial date will be set in the future.
They are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The 2021 Dodson Mayoral election was won by Angel Arocha over Glenn Dolphay by a count of 21-19. There was also one write-in vote.
