Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit released a joint statement Wednesday afternoon announcing criminal charges against a University of Michigan student for allegedly registering to vote and casting a ballot in the 2024 election as a non-U.S. citizen. Prosecutors allege that the student, who is a Chinese citizen, registered to vote on Sunday, Oct. 27 at an early voting site at the University of Michigan Museum of Art.
The individual is being charged with one count of unauthorized elector attempting to vote and one count of perjury, specifically making a false statement to secure voter registration. These charges are punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a fine of $2,000 and five years in prison and/or a fine of $1,000, respectively.
Voter fraud crimes such as tampering with ballots and lying about residences to vote are punishable by large fines, prison time and — for non-U.S. citizens — deportation. While cases of voting illegally are rare and far from a widespread phenomenon, anyone who attempts to do so risks significant consequences, according to the joint statement.
“Noncitizen voting is an extremely isolated and rare event,” the statement read. “Investigations in multiple states and nationwide have found no evidence of large numbers of noncitizens registering to vote. Even less common is a noncitizen actually casting a ballot. When it does happen, we take it extremely seriously. Our elections are secure and Michigan’s state and local election officials carefully follow the law.”
The statement also wrote that Michigan’s election officials will work to ensure the security of the elections, including rapidly investigating allegations of illegal voting.
“Our duty to the law is paramount, as is our responsibility to ensure that every eligible voter is able to register and cast a ballot,” the statement read. “Let this be clear: Voting records are public – any noncitizen who attempts to vote fraudulently in Michigan will be exposing themselves to great risk and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) also released a statement Wednesday in response to the announced charges. In her statement, Nessel wrote that her office has launched a parallel investigation into the matter alongside the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office.
“My office is aware of the Ann Arbor voter fraud allegation and subsequent charges,” the statement read. “It is the responsibility of each and every resident of this state and nation to adhere to the law, and Michigan election law makes clear that non-citizens cannot vote in our elections. We take all allegations of voter fraud extremely seriously, and the public should expect nothing less.”
Daily Staff Reporter Michelle Liao can be reached at mrliao@umich.edu.
The post Charges filed against noncitizen UMich student for illegally registering to vote, casting ballot in Ann Arbor appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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