DOJ Arrests Undocumented Immigrant for Voting in Federal Election

Federal Charges Filed Against Illegal Alien for Voting

Federal authorities arrested an individual in New Jersey for allegedly voting illegally in a federal election.

Marian Charitan, a 62-year-old from Slovakia, is facing charges for illegally casting a ballot and providing false information while applying for U.S. citizenship. Reports indicate that Charitan registered to vote in New Jersey, falsely asserting that he was a U.S. citizen, and participated in the 2022 midterm elections.

It seems Charitan also applied for U.S. citizenship, claiming he had never voted in a federal election, but was later denied citizenship when his voting history was uncovered during the application process.

If found guilty, Charitan could face a year in prison. Voting illegally as a foreign national carries a maximum sentence of one year, while falsifying citizenship could lead to up to ten years behind bars. The case is now under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force.

Earlier in May, separate charges were filed against four green card holders from New Jersey for similar offenses—illegally voting and denying it during their citizenship applications.

In the context of voting rights, the Protecting American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, which aims to mandate proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote, has been stalled in Congress without any clear direction for progress.

While some studies suggest that illegal voting is relatively rare, others indicate that it might still impact election outcomes. Recently, House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned on Fox News the possibility of including the SAVE America Act in a reconciliation bill. He commented on the potential for advancing it without requiring a supermajority, highlighting broad public support for the measures proposed in the act.

Johnson emphasized the importance of ensuring proof of citizenship for voter registration and a photo ID for voting, noting that these issues enjoy significant public support, yet face opposition from some Democrats in Congress.