A Cedarburg woman charged with voter fraud appears in court
Bruce Vielmetti
PORT WASHINGTON – A Cedarburg woman charged with voter fraud in the November election made her initial court appearance Monday.
Christine Daikawa, 48, was charged last month with two counts — making a false statement to obtain or vote an absentee ballot, a misdemeanor, and election fraud by impersonating an elector, a felony.
Prosecutors say Daikawa cast an absentee ballot in a drop box outside the city hall on Nov. 3 for her life partner, who had died in July. City election workers caught the discrepancy and alerted other authorities.
Circuit Judge Stephen Cain found probable cause, based on reading the complaint, for the misdemeanor, and set a January hearing and possible preliminary hearing on the felony charge.
Daikawa appeared with her attorney, Michael F. Hart, who entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf to the misdemeanor. They declined to discuss the case immediately after the hearing.
Daikawa, who had not been arrested when charged last month, was instead ordered to appear at Monday's hearing. Cain set a $2,500 signature bond for her continued release.
RELATED: Jury finds double-voting couple not guilty
RELATED: Man sentenced to jail for multiple votes in several elections
Contact Bruce Vielmetti at (414) 224-2187 or bvielmetti@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ProofHearsay.