Camano Island mom is a felon; she filled in son's ballot

COUPEVILLE — A 43-year-old Camano Island woman with no prior criminal history is now a felon after pleading guilty to using her son's ballot to vote in the 2008 presidential election.

Susan Risenhoover was sentenced to 40 hours of community service Monday, according to an Island County Prosecutor's Office news release.

The woman was not a registered voter in November when she filled out her son's ballot, forged his name and sent it to the Island County Auditor's Office, the release says.

Risenhoover pleaded guilty as charged Monday in Island County Superior Court to being an unqualified person voting, a felony offense.

Staff at the Auditor's Office saw that the signature on the ballot did not match the voter's registration card, the release says.

The ballot was not counted, and the Island County Sheriff's Office took over the case.

Risenhoover's son had moved to Texas in June 2008.

Risenhoover was sentenced to five days in jail for the fraud. But because she cares for her disabled daughter, she was allowed to serve 40 hours of community service instead. She completed that service at the Stanwood-Camano Food Bank. She was also ordered to pay $1,217 in court costs, the release says.

As a felon, Risenhoover will be ineligible to vote until her rights are restored by a judge, the release says.