The state of Ohio has introduced costs towards six individuals accused of voting illegally as non-citizens in a number of elections, Lawyer Common Dave Yost (R) introduced Tuesday.
Ramesh Patel, Lorinda Miller, Nicholas Fontaine, Ahmed Aden, Van Thuy Cooper, and Maria Dearaujo may all resist 18 months in jail if convicted, based on the Day by day Wire.
The defendants seemed to be residing within the nation legally however weren’t U.S. residents once they forged votes in elections spanning from 2008 to 2020, Yost stated in a listing of indictments:
Ramesh Patel, 68, of North Royalton, was indicted in Cuyahoga County on one depend of unlawful voting. Patel lacked U.S. citizenship when he allegedly voted in 2014, 2016, and 2018. He’s scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 1:
Lorinda Miller, 78, of Hudson, was indicted in Summit County on two counts of unlawful voting. Miller is a authorized everlasting resident however lacked U.S. citizenship when she allegedly voted in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Nicholas Fontaine, 32, of Kent, was indicted in Portage County on one depend of unlawful voting. Fontaine is a authorized everlasting resident however lacked U.S. citizenship when he allegedly voted in 2016 and 2018. He’s scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. on Dec. 2.
Ahmed Aden, 35, of Columbus, was indicted in Franklin County on one depend of unlawful voting. Aden is a authorized everlasting resident however lacked U.S. citizenship when he allegedly voted in 2008 and 2020.
Van Thuy Cooper, 53, of Hilliard, was indicted in Franklin County on one depend of unlawful voting. Cooper is a authorized everlasting resident however lacked U.S. citizenship when she allegedly voted in 2016 and 2020.
Maria Dearaujo, 62, of Columbus, was indicted in Franklin County on one depend of unlawful voting. Dearaujo is a lawful resident however lacked U.S. citizenship when she allegedly voted in 2016 and 2018.
Illegally voting is a fourth-degree felony. Whereas it’s unclear if the defendants voted believing they had been allowed to, the legal professional basic stated their actions had been nonetheless prison.
“The correct to vote is sacred,” Yost stated. “When you’re not a U.S. citizen, it’s unlawful to vote – whether or not you thought you had been allowed to or not – you can be held accountable.”
He continued on to make sure safety within the upcoming November 5 election.
“Irregularities like this are uncommon, and it is a small variety of circumstances,” Yost added. “We should always all be assured within the upcoming election, realizing that the legal guidelines are being enforced and can proceed to be enforced.”
Ohio purged practically 500 noncitizen registrations from voter rolls in early August, Secretary of State Frank LaRose stated.
“I wish to give these of us the good thing about the doubt and say that almost all of them didn’t intend to interrupt the legislation,” LaRose stated in a press release on the time. “We wish to make certain a mistaken registration doesn’t change into an unlawful vote. We additionally wish to guarantee that lawfully registered residents can take part seamlessly within the course of, particularly if their citizenship standing modified not too long ago.”
