Non-US citizen accused of voting in the 2024 general election

(WXYZ) – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit released a statement saying a non-U.S. citizen is being charged for voting in the 2024 general election.

The unidentified person is believed to have registered to vote and cast a ballot.

Benson and Savit’s statement provides more information about the case:

Following an alleged violation of law involving a non-U.S. citizen voting at an early voting site in Ann Arbor on Sunday, October 27, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office has approved criminal charges against (1) unauthorized voters attempting to vote, in violation of MCL 168.932a(c), and (2) Perjury – Making a false statement for the purpose of securing voter registration, in violation of MCL 168.933.

All charges are accusations only and suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Only American citizens can register and vote in our elections. It is illegal to lie about someone’s citizenship on registration forms or voting applications. Doing this is a crime.

We are grateful for the swift action of the Registrar in this case, who took the necessary steps and referred the matter to the police. We are also grateful to law enforcement authorities for their prompt and thorough investigation of this case. Anyone who attempts to vote illegally will face significant consequences, including but not limited to arrest and prosecution.

Non-citizen voting is an extremely isolated and rare event. Research in multiple states and across the country has not found that large numbers of noncitizens have registered to vote. Even less common is for a non-citizen to actually cast a vote. If it does happen, we take it very seriously. Our elections are secure and Michigan state and local election officials closely follow the law.

Our duty to the law is paramount, as is our responsibility to ensure that every eligible voter can register and cast a vote.

Let us be clear: Voting records are public – any non-citizen who fraudulently attempts to vote in Michigan will expose themselves to great risk and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No other details have been released.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released the following statement on the case:

My office is aware of the voter fraud allegation in Ann Arbor and subsequent charges. It is the responsibility of every resident of this state and nation to obey the law, and Michigan election law makes it clear that non-citizens cannot vote in our elections. We take all allegations of voter fraud very seriously, and the public should expect nothing less.

As with previous voting rights-related cases, the Department of Justice has launched an independent, parallel investigation into this case.