An ISU student was arrested Thursday night and charged with improper voting, after she allegedly voted on more than one occasion, ISU police said.

Police arrested Anne Friedrichsen, 3479 Friley Hall, originally from New London, at approximately 5 p.m. Thursday. The junior in history was released on citation.

ISU Police began an investigation after receiving a complaint from the Story County Auditor’s Office. According to the DPS log the report was initiated on Dec. 6.

Capt. Gene Deisinger, ISU police, said Friedrichsen is charged with voting twice in the November general election.

She allegedly voted with an absentee ballot on Oct. 31 from a satellite site in Friley Hall, Deisinger said. A second vote was cast five days later at a residence hall on election day, November 5.

Friedrichsen said she was not aware at the time that she had voted twice.

“A mistake has been made,” Friedrichsen said.

She refused to answer any other questions about the charges.

Deisinger said that an improper voting charge is considered a general intent crime. He said that this type of crime does not require proof of intent.

“All the elements of the crime is whether she voted twice or not,” Deisinger said.

Improper voting is a serious misdemeanor according to Iowa Code Chapter 722 section 5. If found guilty, Friedrichsen could face a fine ranging from $250 to $1,500 and jail time not to exceed one year, Deisinger said.

Friedrichsen’s initial court date is set for Dec. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Story County Justice Center in Nevada.

Deisinger said improper voting charges are rare at Iowa State.

“To my knowledge this is the first time we have investigated a crime of this nature.”