Ex-Election Official Gets Wrist Slapped For Election Fraud

Kimberly Zapata, the former Milwaukee elections official who committed election fraud in the 2022 elections by falsely filing for three military absentee ballots found out her fate this week.

Zapata had been facing up to five years in prison, instead was sentenced to one year of probation, a $3,000 fine and 120 hours of community service.

[Judge] Ashley rejected the defense argument that Zapata was acting as a whistleblower, saying Zapata had options to make her point other than to commit crimes.

"I think you had legitimate means to go about solving an issue that you identified, and I think you took a shortcut," Ashley said.

Still, the judge said she did not think Zapata acted with "nefarious intent."

The sentence Ashley handed down included 120 hours of community service as a condition of probation.

Zapata would have to serve nine months in the Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center, formerly known as the House of Correction, if she violates the terms of probation.

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