Indian National Indicted for False Claim of U.S. Citizenship to Vote in Minnesota

<p>Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Minnesota for allegedly making a false claim of U.S. citizenship to vote in the 2024 general election. The indictment was announced following a press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier this month.</p><p>According to the DOJ, Chaudhari signed a voter signature certificate required under state law to vote in Minnesota and cast a ballot on November 5, 2024, while falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, "The right to vote is a sacred privilege of American citizenship, and every lawful voter deserves an election system in which that right is protected." She emphasized the DOJ's commitment to holding accountable those who make false claims of citizenship to vote.</p><p>Dhillon also noted that the DOJ has indicted or convicted 67 individuals for election-related crimes. Earlier this year, Chaudhari was charged with state perjury and voting violation charges. Initially, he denied voting when questioned by authorities but later admitted to voting and stated he is not a U.S. citizen.</p><p>Investigators reported that Chaudhari received a voter registration notice from Minnesota, likely triggered after he obtained a driver's license. He informed authorities that he was unaware he should not have voted until his lawyer advised him during his green card process.</p><p>Chad Ennis, Vice President of the Honest Elections Project, commented on the indictment, stating, "Once again, DOJ is proving that if you look for election fraud, you find election fraud." He criticized claims from some Democrats that election fraud does not occur, citing this case as an example of a non-citizen illegally registering to vote.</p><p>On social media, reactions to the indictment included comments from users highlighting that some elected Democrats have downplayed the existence of voter fraud. Bill Glahn from the Center for the American Experiment remarked on X about the contradiction between claims of fraud being rare and the indictment.</p><p>The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State reiterated that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in the state, describing ineligible voting as "extremely rare." They explained that individuals must attest to their eligibility when completing a voter registration application and again before casting a ballot. Penalties for voting while ineligible may include deportation, a permanent bar on future citizenship, fines up to $10,000, and up to five years in prison.</p><p>If convicted, Chaudhari faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the two counts against him.</p>