A French national has admitted to illegally casting a ballot in the 2022 federal midterm elections, with his attorneys stating that he believed he was allowed to vote due to being automatically registered when he received his driver’s license. Eliezer Kadoch, 39, pleaded guilty to voting by an alien in a federal election and now faces up to six months in federal prison and a $100,000 fine. Kadoch, a citizen of France who has never held U.S. citizenship, voted on November 8, 2022, in an election that included the selection of members of the U.S. House of Representatives. His sentencing is scheduled for October 26.
Kadoch's attorney, Yosef Jacobovitch, explained that his client "mistakenly believed" he was legally permitted to vote because he had been automatically registered when he obtained his driver’s license. Jacobovitch stated that Kadoch accepted responsibility for his actions and that there was never any intent to violate the law or cast an unlawful ballot. However, the offense to which Kadoch pleaded guilty does not require proof of criminal intent, and he now fully understands that he was not allowed to vote.
The case highlights the issue of noncitizens being added to voter rolls due to automatic voter registration when they obtain driver's licenses. Several states have investigated this issue and found noncitizens on their voter rolls. Proposed solutions include requiring proof of citizenship to vote and implementing audit requirements to ensure that noncitizens are not on the voter rolls.
The investigation into Kadoch's case was a joint effort involving federal law enforcement partners, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force brought the case, which is dedicated to preserving and protecting the integrity of elections.
Kadoch's immigration status has not been publicly released. The case serves as an example of the importance of maintaining the integrity of elections and ensuring that only eligible citizens are allowed to vote. The outcome of Kadoch's sentencing will be determined on October 26.
