Los Angeles: Federal authorities in the United States have brought fresh election-related charges against a Filipino permanent resident accused of participating in multiple elections despite not holding American citizenship, adding to a widening investigation into alleged voter registration violations in California.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) identified the accused as a 43-year-old Palmdale resident who allegedly provided false citizenship information when registering as a voter in August 2009. Prosecutors claim he later participated in three elections through mail-in ballots in May 2020, November 2024 and June 2026.
The case is part of a broader federal crackdown involving six foreign nationals accused of violating election laws and providing misleading information in their applications for US citizenship. The other accused include individuals from Mexico, Israel, Canada and Iran.
Authorities clarified that all six individuals possess green cards, which grant lawful permanent residency but do not provide voting rights in American elections. Under US law, only eligible citizens can register and cast ballots in federal elections.
The investigation is being conducted under Operation Protect the Vote, a federal initiative aimed at identifying suspected electoral violations and preventing unlawful participation in the voting process.
First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said 34 individuals had been charged under the operation so far. He also called on California authorities to cooperate in examining voter registration records flagged for possible citizenship-related violations.
The latest charges come days after the DOJ announced on October 26 that 48 foreign nationals had been charged in separate election-related cases. Four Filipinos were among those accused of offences involving illegal voting and fraudulent registration.
The six newly charged individuals are expected to appear before a federal court in Los Angeles.
