A Hoopeston woman has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine after pleading guilty to voting twice in a federal election.

Sixty-one-year-old Brenda Knuth was sentenced June 26th after admitting she voted more than once during the 2024 general election. According to federal prosecutors, Knuth voted early in the November 2024 election, then also voted on Election Day. Federal candidates were on the ballot during that election.

After casting her second ballot, Knuth posted on Facebook that she had “tested the system and it failed.” She later admitted to an FBI special agent that she voted twice because she wanted to see if her early vote had counted.

Prosecutors say Knuth acknowledged she did not contact election officials, confirm whether her first vote was counted, or notify the clerk’s office after voting a second time. She also admitted she knew she was not allowed to vote again after casting an early ballot.

At sentencing, officials noted Knuth’s only prior conviction was a 2025 Vermilion County case involving unlawful possession of an alligator. United States District Judge Colin Bruce sentenced Knuth to probation and the $2,500 fine.

U.S. Attorney Gregory Gilmore said protecting the integrity of federal elections is a priority, adding that every lawful vote must be counted only once. The FBI Springfield Field Office investigated the case with assistance from Illinois State Police.

Officials say federal law allows penalties of up to five years in prison or probation and a fine of up to $10,000 for voting more than once in a federal election.

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