Two women charged with Deceptive Election Practices

Grace O. Albia and Jannet Benitez Zeta have both been charged with Deceptive Election Practices in Phillips County Justice Court. The charges allege that both falsified their voter registration form on October 12, 2021, when they declared on the form that they were United States citizens. Both are citizens of the Philippines here in Montana on work visas.

After the Dodson, Montana town election in November 2021, several residents of Dodson notified the Phillips County Clerk and Recorder that Zeta and Albia had voted in the election but were not U.S.citizens. Pursuant to state law, the Clerk and Recorder notified Zeta and Albia in December 2021 that their eligibility to vote had been challenged.

The Phillips County Sheriff conducted an investigation and determined that Zeta and Albia were not U.S. citizens when they registered to vote. Zeta and Albia admitted to completing the voter registration form and acknowledged that they were not citizens. Both refused to disclose the names of any person who encouraged them to register or vote in the election. On January 3, 2022, the Clerk canceled their voter registrations.

Zeta and Albia have entered not guilty pleas. An attorney has not been appointed to represent them. A trial date will be set in the future. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty.