Three Hidalgo County voters are the latest Rio Grande Valley residents to be arrested in connection with ongoing voter fraud investigations in South Texas.

Texas Rangers arrested Veronica Vela Saenz, Maria Aleman, and Jose Antonio Vela today on suspicion of voter fraud, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Johnny Hernandez confirmed to Texas Scorecard.

Vela Saenz and Aleman allegedly voted in Edinburg in 2017 but did not live in the city. They face charges of illegal voting, a second-degree felony. Vela allegedly made a false statement on a voter registration application, a Class B misdemeanor.

Rangers launched a voter fraud investigation in Hidalgo County last month after receiving reports of alleged illegal voting in the City of Edinburg’s November 2017 municipal election.

One woman who admitted voting illegally said she wanted to come forward because of the recent voter fraud arrests in neighboring Starr County. Seven people there have been charged with illegal voting or submitting fraudulent mail ballot applications.

Local ABC affiliate KRGV located the woman by looking through public voter registration records obtained from the Hidalgo County Elections Office. Those records also revealed 11 people registered to vote at a single address on Fay Street in Edinburg, which turned out to be a small, one-bedroom home.

Rangers are working with the Texas Attorney General’s office and the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s office on the voter fraud investigation.

Erin Anderson

Erin Anderson is a Senior Journalist for Texas Scorecard, reporting on state and local issues, events, and government actions that impact people in communities throughout Texas and the DFW Metroplex. A native Texan, Erin grew up in the Houston area and now lives in Collin County.

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