Arizona woman avoids jail time for voting with dead mother’s ballot in 2020 election

An Arizona woman who voted on behalf of her dead mother in the 2020 general election has dodged jail time.

Tracey Kay McKee was sentenced on Friday to two years’ felony probation, fines and community service, after Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Margaret LaBianca rejected a prosecutor’s request that she serve at least 30 days in jail for lying to investigators.

The 64-year-old, who now lives in California, sobbed while she waited for the judge to deliver her punishment, claiming she was only grieving the loss of her mother, Mary Arendt, at the time. A registered Republican, Arendt died a month before the November vote and just two days before early ballots were mailed out.

“Your honor, I would like to apologize,” McKee said through. “I don’t want to make the excuse for my behavior. What I did was wrong and I’m prepared to accept the consequences handed down by the court.”

McKee, a Republican, who now lives in California, previously admitted to signing her dead mother’s name to an early ballot envelope and mailing it to Maricopa County during the 2020 election.

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In February, McKee pleaded guilty to a reduced felony charge of attempted illegal voting.

Assistant Attorney General Todd Lawson played the courtroom a recording of an interview with McKee during which she denied committing voter fraud, but acknowledged that it was in fact an issue.

“The only way to prevent voter fraud is to physically go in and punch a ballot,” McKee told the investigator. “I mean, voter fraud is going to be prevalent as long as there’s mail-in voting, for sure. I mean, there’s no way to ensure a fair election.

“And I don’t believe that this was a fair election,” she continued. “I do believe there was a lot of voter fraud.”

Lawson unsuccessfully argued McKee deserved to spend time behind bars, demanding she be held accountable those guilty of voter fraud.

McKee is one of 10 Arizonans charged so far with illegally voting in the 2020 general election that saw Joe Biden claim the presidency.

With News Wire Services

Source: nydailynews