(Meredith/WFTS) —  A Florida man is charged with voter fraud for allegedly requesting a ballot for his dead wife. 

Larry Wiggins is being charged with “requesting vote by mail ballot on behalf of another elector.”

Authorities say they received two ballot requests on September 17 from the 62-year-old.

Mike Bennet, Manatee County Supervisor of Elections, said Wiggins requested a mail-in ballot for himself and his wife. 

Staff noticed the signatures of Wiggins’ wife did not match the signature they had on file, and they discovered she had passed away in 2018.

“He admitted that, yes in fact, he forged his wife’s signature and requested another vote-by-mail ballot,” Bennet said.

Wiggins was arrested for voter fraud and faces a third-degree felony charge that could include a fine of up to $5,000 and up to five years in prison. 

“His story was that he wanted to test the system, and I have, in fact, proved that the system works the way that we do it in Florida,” Bennet said. 

According to the County Supervisor of Elections, anyone who tries to commit voter fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. 

“We want everyone to know how serious it is. Do not mess with our election,” Bennet said.

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