Florida Man Arrested For Requesting Mail-In Ballot For Dead Wife; Says He Was Testing Voting System

A Florida man is facing felony charges after allegedly requesting a mail-in ballot for his dead wife. However, on Friday, the man said he was just testing the voting system.

Larry Wiggins’ wife died in 2018. But, earlier this month, Higgins, 62, requested a vote by mail ballot for his deceased partner.

According to Fox News, Manatee Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett said the fraud was discovered during a routine check of the voter roll, which occurs after someone requests a mail-in ballot. The system is updated with information on deceased voters.

When officials pulled up Wiggins’ file, they noticed his wife, Ursula, had died two years prior. Compared to the absentee ballot, the signature on her file proved that Wiggins had forged her signature.

As a result, Wiggins was arrested and charged for requesting a vote by mail ballot on behalf of another elector. He was later released on a $1,500 bail, the publication reports.

Upon release, Wiggins denied any wrongdoing, adding that he was just testing the system.

“I heard so much about ballots being sent in and people just having found them in different places,” Wiggins told WFLA-TV. I feel like I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I said well, let me just send it in and see what’s going to happen to see if they’re actually going to send a ballot for her to vote,” he said, adding that he never planned to vote twice. He also denied replicating her signature.

If convicted, Wiggins could face up to five years in prison.