Brenda Knuth, a 61-year-old Hoopeston, Illinois, woman, was sentenced on June 26, 2026, to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine for voting twice in a federal election. Knuth pleaded guilty on January 30, 2026, to casting multiple ballots in the November 2024 general election, which included candidates for federal office.
Knuth admitted to voting early and then again on election day. She later posted on Facebook that she “tested the system and it failed.” She told a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that she voted twice because she wanted to see if her early vote counted, acknowledging she knew a second vote was not permitted and did not consult election officials.
U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce delivered the sentence after hearing arguments, noting Knuth’s only prior conviction was in Vermilion County, Illinois, in 2025 for unlawful possession of an alligator.
United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore emphasized the importance of election integrity, saying, “The right to vote is a fundamental part of our democracy. Abuse of that right cannot be tolerated.” FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley added, “Protecting the integrity of federal elections is one of the FBI’s highest priorities.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Springfield Field Office with assistance from the Illinois State Police. Voting more than once in a federal election carries statutory penalties of up to five years imprisonment or probation and a $10,000 fine.