Marion County woman charged with voter fraud after double voting in 2020

Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner
·2 min read
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A woman who state officials said voted more than once in the same election cycle in 2020 was taken into custody on Monday.

Following an investigation by Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials, Donna Prentes Brady was charged with violating Florida Statute 104.18, which makes casting more than one ballot in an election a third-degree felony.

Brady was booked into the Marion County Jail shortly before 3 p.m. Monday with bail set at $2,000. The 66-year-old Ocala woman was released at 10:40 p.m. Monday, jail records show. She could not be reached for comment.

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FDLE investigation

According to Brady's arrest report, she voted in person in Marion County on March 12, 2020, as part of the presidential primary election. She voted as a registered Republican.

Then, on July 3, 2020, Brady sent a mail-in ballot in the presidential primary election in Sussex County, New Jersey. Her ballot was received on the same day and it was scanned and counted on Aug. 4, FDLE officials said. This time she voted as a registered Democrat.

On Oct. 8, 2020, Brady voted by mail in the 2020 general election in Marion County. She signed her ballot.

The voter certification says: "I do solemnly swear of affirm that I am a qualified and registered voter of Marion County, FL and that I have not and will not vote more than one ballot for this election. I understand that if I commit or attempt to commit any fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more than once in an election, I can be convicted of a felony of the third degree and be fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to five years."

Within days of casting that ballot in Marion County, the report states, Brady voted again, with a mail ballot in New Jersey. Her ballot was received and scanned in Sussex County on Nov. 23.

FDLE interview with Brady

FDLE investigators met with Brady at her Ocala residence in late October 2022 and interviewed her. Agents said she admitted to voting in the Florida and New Jersey elections.

Authorities showed Brady her voter certification from the Oct. 8, 2020 Marion County mail ballot, and she admitted it was her signature.

FDLE officials believed they had probable cause for her arrest and obtained a warrant.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: State charges Marion woman with voter fraud after 2020 elections