http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/state/15362074.htm

Posted on Fri, Aug. 25, 2006

Port Lavaca councilwoman indicted on voter fraud charges


Associated Press

PORT LAVACA, Texas - A city councilwoman has been indicted on felony and misdemeanor voter fraud charges related to the March primary, Attorney General Greg Abbott's office announced Friday.

Debra Briseno, 51, who lost a Democratic runoff for Calhoun County justice of the peace, is accused of helping permanent residents who are noncitizens to vote and instructing a voter to mark a ballot for her and another candidate.

A grand jury handed up the indictment on charges of illegal voting, tampering with a government record, making a false statement on a registration application, unlawful voter assistance and possessing a ballot intended for another person.

"Texans insist that our election process stay clean and untainted by illegal acts," Abbott said. "Those who commit such fraud exploit the elderly and others, and such acts will not be tolerated in this state."

Briseno said she didn't learn of the indictment until contacted by phone by The Associated Press and declined further comment.

According to Abbott's office, Briseno helped the noncitizen residents register to vote, telling them they only needed a driver's license to do so.

She filled out a portion of the application and marked that the residents were citizens. They signed the documents and she mailed them, Abbott's office said. An investigation found three of the ineligible voters cast ballots.

In another instance, Briseno instructed a voter to mark a ballot for her and another candidate, which amounts to giving a voter unlawful assistance, Abbott's office said.

Investigators also allege she visited elderly residents, helped them apply to vote by mail, then collected their ballots and mailed them, a misdemeanor violation of state elections code.