St. Louis man admits using dead mother's absentee ballot to vote

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A 55-year-old St. Louis man could face up to five years in prison after admitting that he used his dead mother's absentee ballot to vote in the February election.

Joel Neal pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to election fraud. Sentencing is set for June 30th.

U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway says Mrs. Neal died in October. But in January, Joel Neal applied for an absentee ballot from the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners on behalf of his mother. Hanaway says he falsely claimed she was incapacitated.

Neal marked the ballot and cast a vote in the name of his deceased mother.