Charging documents say Kimberly Zapata, currently free on a signature bond, ordered false ballots in an attempt to illuminate loopholes in Wisconsin election laws.

MILWAUKEE (CN) — A former high-ranking Milwaukee election official charged with requesting fraudulent military absentee ballots in the recent general election had her first day in court on Friday, where she pleaded not guilty to three voter fraud misdemeanors.

Kimberly Zapata, 45, faces one felony count of misconduct in public office and three counts of making a false statement to obtain or vote an absentee ballot, all misdemeanors. The felony carries a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine or 3.5 years in prison, or both; the misdemeanors carry potential penalties of a $1,000 fine, six months imprisonment, or both.

Prosecutors say Zapata used fake names to falsely apply for three absentee ballots meant for military and overseas voters, then used her governmental access to obtain the home address of state Republican lawmaker Janel Brandtjen of Menomonee Falls and had the fraudulent ballots mailed there.

“Zapata admitted that she was attempting to highlight flaws within the absentee system,” the complaint against her says. “She stated that attempting to highlight the flaws within the system is an attempt to maintain election integrity, which is part of her job.”

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson first revealed on Nov. 3 that Zapata—who had risen to the position of deputy director in seven years with the city elections...

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