SouthernWorldwide.com – A French citizen has admitted to illegally casting a ballot in the 2022 midterm elections, claiming he was automatically registered to vote in New Jersey.
Eliezer Kadoch, 39, has pleaded guilty to voting as an alien in a federal election. The case was heard in Trenton federal court.
Kadoch, who is a citizen of France and has never held U.S. citizenship, voted on November 8, 2022. This election included the election of members to the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Kadoch’s attorney stated that Kadoch accepted responsibility for his actions. The attorney also clarified that there was no intent to break the law or cast an unlawful ballot.
However, the offense Kadoch pleaded guilty to does not require proof of criminal intent. He now understands this fully.
Kadoch faces a potential sentence of up to six months in federal prison. He could also be fined up to $100,000.
His sentencing is scheduled for October 26.
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has reported on the issue of noncitizens being added to voter rolls. This can occur when driver’s licenses are issued to noncitizens, coupled with automatic voter registration systems.
The AFPI noted that several states have investigated this issue in recent years. These states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Investigations in these states identified noncitizens on their voter rolls.
AFPI has drafted model legislation to address this vulnerability. The proposed solutions include requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to vote.
The model legislation also suggests implementing audit requirements. These audits would aim to ensure that noncitizens are not present on voter rolls.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer highlighted that the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force. This task force comprises federal law enforcement partners dedicated to safeguarding election integrity in New Jersey.
The investigation was a collaborative effort. It involved special agents from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Kadoch’s specific immigration status has not been publicly disclosed.
