Ohio Indicts Six People for Alleged Illegal Voting as Non-Citizens

In Ohio, six individuals have been indicted by grand juries for allegedly casting illegal votes as non-citizens in previous elections. The accused include Ahmed Aden, a 35-year-old resident of Columbus, and five other individuals. The indictments were made public on October 22.

Details of the Indictments

According to the indictment, Aden is believed to have cast votes in the 2008 and 2020 elections. The other individuals indicted are Nicholas Fontaine, 32, from Kent; Van Thuy Cooper, 53, from Hilliard; Maria Dearaujo, 62, from Columbus; Ramesh Patel, 68, from North Royalton; and Lorinda Miller, 78, from Hudson. These individuals are accused of voting in various elections between 2014 and 2020, despite not possessing U.S. citizenship. Attempts to reach the defendants for comments were unsuccessful.

Ohio's Stance on Illegal Voting

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost emphasized at a news conference that it is illegal for non-citizens to vote, regardless of whether they believed they were permitted to do so. Yost's office intervenes when local prosecutors refuse to pursue cases against alleged criminals. Five of the indicted individuals face one count of illegal voting, while Miller faces two counts. The law against illegal voting prohibits any person from voting or attempting to vote in any primary, special, or general election in a precinct where they are not a legally qualified elector. The law also forbids voting more than once in a single election. Illegal voting is a fourth-degree felony, carrying a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison. However, Yost anticipates that none of the defendants will be sentenced to prison time if convicted.

Continuing Investigations

The indictments were made following a referral of 138 cases of alleged illegal voting by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose to Yost's office in August. Special state prosecutors began examining the cases, prioritizing those involving non-citizens. Prosecutors are still working through the cases, including additional referrals made in September. Some of these cases involve individuals voting more than once. Yost assured reporters that the investigation is ongoing and that he anticipates additional cases will be filed. In some instances, local prosecutors are being provided with evidence of illegal voting. If they do not pursue cases "within a reasonable time," Yost's office will consider bringing charges under Ohio law. LaRose has also referred cases involving improper voter registration. However, Yost clarified that his office does not have the authority to prosecute registration cases, even if prosecutors believe charges are warranted. Ohio's Constitution stipulates that voters must be U.S. citizens. This requirement was clarified in 2022 to include local elections.

Bottom Line

The issue of non-citizens voting in elections is a contentious one, with these recent indictments in Ohio highlighting the seriousness of the matter. The ongoing investigations and potential for more cases to be filed underscore the importance of ensuring the integrity of the voting process. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you believe more needs to be done to prevent illegal voting? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.