Alabama AG Announces Arrests for Ballot Harvesting and Absentee Ballot Fraud

AG: Alabama Press Releases

Filed February 26th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

The Alabama Attorney General's office announced the arrest of three individuals on charges related to ballot harvesting and unlawful use of absentee ballots during the August 2025 Frisco City municipal election. The defendants face a combined 17 counts of ballot harvesting and 20 counts of unlawful use of absentee ballots.

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What changed

Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the arrest of Sarah Bennett, Sharon Denson, and Samantha Kyles in Monroe County, Alabama, for alleged ballot harvesting and unlawful use of absentee ballots in the Frisco City municipal election. The three individuals face a total of 17 counts of ballot harvesting (a Class A misdemeanor) and 20 counts of unlawful use of absentee ballots (a Class C felony).

The unlawful use of absentee ballots carries a penalty of one year and one day to 10 years in prison, while ballot harvesting is punishable by up to one year in jail. The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Division. Regulated entities involved in election processes should be aware of these enforcement actions and the potential penalties for violations of election laws.

What to do next

Review state election laws regarding absentee ballot procedures and ballot harvesting.
Ensure all election-related activities strictly adhere to legal requirements to avoid potential criminal charges.

Penalties

Unlawful use of absentee ballots is a Class C felony punishable by one year and one day to 10 years in prison. Ballot harvesting is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Marshall Announces the Arrest of Three Individuals for Unlawful Use of Absentee Ballots and Ballot Harvesting

View PDF For Immediate Release:
February 26, 2026

For press inquiries only, contact:
Amanda Priest (334) 322-5694
William Califf (334) 604-3230

(Monroe, Ala) – Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the arrest of three Monroe County residents on charges of ballot harvesting and unlawful use of absentee ballots in the August 26, 2025, Frisco City municipal election.

Sarah Bennett, 60, Sharon Denson, 67, and Samantha Kyles, 46, face a combined 17 counts of ballot harvesting and 20 counts of unlawful use of absentee ballots.

The indictment alleges that each defendant falsified absentee ballot applications or verification documents and harvested the ballots of multiple individuals.

Unlawful use of absentee ballots is a Class C felony punishable by one year and one day to 10 years in prison. Ballot harvesting is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Division. No further information about the investigation or the alleged crimes is available at this time.

** An indictment is not a conviction, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.*

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