Amid voter fraud arrests, lawsuit, judge orders special election in Frisco City

MONORE COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Jack Weaver has ordered a special election in Frisco City following a lawsuit and recent arrests involving alleged voter fraud.

Judge Weaver signed a consent decree requiring Frisco City to hold a special election to determine who will serve as mayor and district one town council.

During a court hearing on March 11, he ordered town officials to produce a workable voter list showing all registered and eligible voters, as well as a district list indicating which district each resident lives in.

Weaver also ruled that anyone who worked in the August municipal election cannot work in the upcoming special election.

The town has 45 days to create the new voter and district lists. Once those lists are completed and reviewed, Judge Weaver said he will set a date for the special election and will ensure it is held as soon as possible so citizens can elect their mayor.

This decision is the result of a lawsuit filed by former mayor Allen Lang, who claims 131 illegal absentee ballots were cast in last August’s municipal election, causing him to lose to Brandaun Love. Court records show Love received 255 votes to Lang’s 165.

The decision also comes after three Monroe County women, Samantha Kyles, Sarah Bennett and Sharon Denson, were indicted for voter fraud. Court documents show the women filled out a total of 20 illegal absentee ballots during the Frisco City municipal election in August.

FOX10 News has learned Bennett is now a former security guard for the Monroe County Courthouse, whose last day was March 4. Officials also confirmed Kyles is a judicial assistant for District Judge Donna Silcox.

Judge Silcox’s office is refusing to say whether Kyles is still employed there.

We did get a statement from Silcox on why she would not say the employment status of Kyles: