Orono Woman Allegedly Voted with Former Roommate’s Ballot

An Orono woman is accused of illegally voting with her former roommate's absentee ballot.

Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and Attorney General Aaron Frey announced the criminal complaint that has been filed against 19-year-old Alyssa Dau. She allegedly filled out her former roommate's ballot and filed it. Local election officials in Orono reported the incident to the Secretary of State's office before the ballot was processed.

Dau is charged with voting in the name of another and forging the name of another on an absentee ballot return envelope. Each charge is punishable by up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. Matt Dunlap says voter fraud is extremely rare in Maine and says the state's central voter registration system and network of election officials work efficiently to prevent fraud. In this case, he says, it worked 'extremely well.'