Forged Signatures, Real Consequences

Ashley N. Arias, 32, of Wernersville, was sentenced on July 15 to one to three years in state prison for submitting multiple falsified voter registration and mail-in ballot request forms in Monroe County. Monroe County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Sibum handed down the sentence—which exceeded recommended guidelines—after Arias pleaded guilty to three counts of perjury.

The investigation into her actions was part of a broader probe into election integrity ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Arias was employed by Fieldcorps, a canvassing firm, and when speaking to investigators, she suggested that some canvassers submitted fraudulent forms to “meet quotas and increase pay.” Arias claimed her specific forgeries were intended to serve as “examples” for new canvassers. The court noted that her actions—which included filing registrations for deceased individuals and falsifying signatures—undermined public trust in the electoral process.

Crucially, while the falsified applications were submitted to officials, they were intercepted during the routine verification process. Election experts emphasized that these were applications to register or request a ballot, not actual ballots; no illegal ballots were cast as a result of her actions.