Allegations: An Itasca County woman filled out a ballot on behalf of her deceased mother

An Itasca County woman faces multiple felony charges after she allegedly mailed an absentee ticket on behalf of her deceased mother, according to court documents.

According to the criminal complaint, the Itasca County Auditor’s Office flagged two absentee tickets received earlier this month — one for Rose Marie Javorina and the other for her daughter, Danielle Christine Miller.

The auditor did not release the sealed ballots, but noted that vital records indicate Yavorina died on Aug. 31. The district did not send out absentee ballots until September 20.

Each ballot must be completed by a voter and a witness, who must be a registered Minnesota voter, notary public, or person authorized to administer an oath.

The complaint states that Yavorina completed the witness section of Miller’s ballot, and Yavorina completed and signed the voter section of her ballot. Both ballots listed the same address in Nashwauk, Minnesota, and were filled out in the same black ink.

An Itasca County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant compared the signatures on the ballot to the signature on Miller’s driver’s license and found they were “very similar and matched,” the complaint states.

In an Oct. 11 interview, Miller admitted to the lieutenant that she filled out absentee passes for both herself and her mother, signing her mother’s name on the envelope with Yavorina’s signature and on her witness portion.

Miller said her mother “was an avid supporter of Donald Trump and wanted to vote for Trump in this election,” but died before the absentee ballot was obtained, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors charged Miller with two counts of knowingly making or signing a false certificate and one count of illegally voting or aiding and abetting another. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.

Miller was charged on a summons and is not in custody. Her first court appearance is scheduled for December 4.