A University of Michigan student from China faces criminal charges after allegedly casting a ballot illegally. According to Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, the non-citizen student registered using his student ID and residency documents, falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to vote in Michigan. His ballot, cast at an early voting site, will still count under current election laws, which prevent retrieval of ballots after processing.
The student faces two serious charges: perjury, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, and unauthorized voting, a felony that carries up to four years in prison and a $2,000 fine. Though he realized his error and contacted the clerk’s office to withdraw his ballot, Michigan law prevents recovery of ballots once they’ve been entered into the tabulator.
This case highlights the complexities of election law, especially regarding residency and citizenship requirements. Michigan’s laws uphold that all ballots, once processed, remain part of the election count, even if cast in error.
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