PASCO, Wash. — A Pasco woman has been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts of voter fraud and identity theft stemming from the 2024 General Election, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities identified Esperanza Contreras, 52, an apartment manager in Pasco, as the suspect in an investigation involving fraudulently completed and submitted ballots. Detectives were first alerted to the issue on Oct. 14, 2025, when the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reported an irregular ballot that had been counted in the election.
Investigators determined that one ballot had been mailed to a former Pasco resident who had since moved to Oregon and was legally registered to vote there. Despite this, a Washington ballot was sent to the former address, completed, submitted to the Franklin County Auditor’s Office, and counted.
Further investigation uncovered three additional ballots mailed to the same apartment complex that showed suspicious characteristics. Detectives allege Contreras took possession of all four ballots, which were addressed to former tenants, completed them, forged the voters’ signatures, and submitted them for counting.
Officials said three of the four ballots were counted, while the fourth was rejected due to a signature mismatch. During an interview with investigators, Contreras allegedly admitted to voting all four ballots and forging the signatures.
Contreras was arrested and booked into the Franklin County Jail on 12 felony charges related to identity theft and illegal voting.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and Contreras is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
