3 residents of The Villages accused of voting twice in 2020 presidential election

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — Three residents of The Villages are free on a $2,000 bond after officials said they voted twice in the 2020 presidential election.

All three await trial on voter fraud charges, a third-degree felony. A conviction could mean up to five years in prison.

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Investigators said all three Florida residents cast ballots in October 2020 in Sumter County but each voted again by sending in absentee ballots to other states.

Joan Halstead, 71, Jay Ketcik, 62, and John Rider, 59, turned themselves in over the last eight days all pleading not guilty to one charge each of voter fraud.

READ: Florida election supervisors question need for new $6 million election police force

Investigators said there’s no indication that the three residents know each other. It’s also not known for which candidate these residents cast their votes.

Voter records show Rider is not affiliated with any party, while Halstead and Ketcik are registered Republicans.

READ: Gov. DeSantis proposes new election reforms for Florida

Video: Experts weigh in on Gov. DeSantis effort to create police force to monitor elections Gov. Ron DeSantis wants a new police force to monitor elections in Florida, but last November, he called the state's election a model for the country. (Christopher Heath, WFTV.com)

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