Prosecutors: Germantown Woman Tried to Vote Under Dead Mother’s Name

A Germantown woman tried to vote under her deceased mother’s name, an indictment from the Maryland State Prosecutor’s office has alleged.

The indictment was filed July 25 against Linda Earlette Wells, 67, of the 18600 block of Winding Creek Place, Montgomery County Circuit Court records show.

Wells was charged with impersonating a voter in order to register in the name of the voter, attempting to vote under a false name, and impersonating another person in an attempt to vote, state prosecutors said in a statement Tuesday.

According to the indictment, on Nov. 6, 2012, Wells—who was registered to vote in Broward County, FL—cast a provisional ballot at Roberto Clemente Middle School under her deceased mother’s name, Beatrice Wells.

Prior to Election Day, the indictment said, Wells called the Montgomery County Board of Elections claiming to be Beatrice Wells, who died in 2011. Due to the phone call, the county election board re-activated Beatrice Wells’ voter status, which had been canceled due to her death.

The provisional vote under Beatrice Wells’ name was not counted, according to the indictment.

Wells could face as much as 15 years behind bars and $6,000 in fines, according to the state prosecutor’s office.

An attorney was not listed for Wells in court records accessed online.

A court hearing is scheduled Aug. 16.