Kansas mayor who is not a citizen faces accusations of voting illegally ‘several times’ after being re-elected

Kansas Mayor Accused of Voting Illegally

A mayor in Kansas, who recently secured re-election, is facing allegations of election fraud due to voting while being a non-citizen.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach revealed on Wednesday that charges have been filed against Coldwater Mayor Jose “Joe” Ceballos. Kobach indicated that Ceballos, a permanent resident originally from Mexico, is not a U.S. citizen.

Kobach pointed out, “The current system relies heavily on trust… In this situation, we believe Mr. Ceballos breached that trust.” Ceballos achieved nearly 83 percent of the vote in his second term. He’s been charged with three counts of ineligible voting and three counts of election perjury, both considered felonies.

“Voting without U.S. citizenship is unlawful in Kansas. We assert that Mr. Ceballos voted multiple times,” Kobach stated.

If found guilty of these charges, Ceballos could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $200,000.

“The system is based on trust. When someone indicates they are eligible to vote or claim to be a U.S. citizen, that should be taken at face value. But here, we’re alleging that Mr. Ceballos did not adhere to that principle,” Kobach added.

The Coldwater City Council President shared Kobach’s comments on social media prior to a press announcement. Britt Lennertz emphasized the need to let the legal matters unfold before making further statements, stressing the importance of due process and local government integrity.

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab noted in a press conference that resources from former President Donald Trump’s administration have enhanced their ability to verify voter citizenship.

“They can be legal residents, but not citizens. We want that distinction clear,” Schwab stated. “Voting in that case is a crime. We’re actively monitoring this, and we want to avoid false positives, but be ready, Attorney General, it seems you’ll have a lot on your plate.”

The Coldwater City Attorney mentioned that several concerns arose when Ceballos applied for citizenship in February after being registered to vote since 1990.

Ceballos was first elected in 2021 and ran unopposed for re-election in 2025. A determination regarding his qualifications to remain in office will be made by the city attorney.