Alabama Democrat Arrested For Casting Fraudulent Absentee Ballots

Terry Andrew Heflin, a Democratic candidate for the District 5 Clay County Commission in Alabama, was arrested on Wednesday, facing seven felony counts of voter fraud. The charges stem from allegations that Heflin, 45, falsified absentee ballot applications and voted on behalf of others in the March 5, 2024, Democratic Primary Election.

According to the indictment by the Clay County Grand Jury, Heflin falsified an absentee ballot application for Jamey Ware, a non-resident of District 5, and voted in Ware’s name. The indictment further alleges that Heflin cast fraudulent votes for three other individuals on six additional occasions.

The Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division is prosecuting Heflin, who won the Democratic primary in April with 141 votes against Beverly Appleby Hill’s 98 votes.

Secretary of State Wes Allen issued a statement highlighting the seriousness of election fraud: “When my office was made aware of what was happening in Clay County, we immediately referred the case to Attorney General Marshall for criminal prosecution. This case of felony voter fraud sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated in Alabama.”
Heflin turned himself in to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and is currently detained at the county jail. If convicted, he could face several years in prison and significant fines.

Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter praised the state’s efforts to protect election integrity and expressed confidence in the security of the upcoming November elections.

The controversy over mail-in voting continues to divide opinions, with conservatives expressing concerns about its security and liberal organizations, such as the Brennan Center, defending it as a secure voting method.