Noncitizen Charged With Illegally Voting in Fillmore County

Preston, MN (KROC-AM News) - A non-U.S. citizen living in Fillmore County has been charged with illegally voting in the November 2024 election.

Facing Two Felony Charges

A criminal complaint was filed in Fillmore County court on Monday charging 40-year-old Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari with felony counts of perjury and illegally voting as a noncitizen. If convicted of the perjury charge, the Spring Valley man faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. The maximum sentence for the voting violation is one year in prison.

Voting Documents Obtained by Investigator

According to the charges, the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office obtained information from the Fillmore County Courthouse involving Chaudhari's citizenship status and voting record. The information indicated that he submitted a ballot in the 2024 election at a polling place in Spring Valley and may not have been eligible to vote.

Registered to Vote in 2023

Documents obtained during the investigation included a ballot signed by Chaudhari, and a voter registration report indicating he registered, voted, and submitted his ballot in the election. The documents showed that Chaudhari applied to be a registered voter on March 12, 2023, and was added to the voter rolls later that month.

Made a Mistake

The criminal complaint says Chaudhari initially denied voting in the 2024 election when he was interviewed by a Fillmore County Sheriff's Office investigator. The court document says he later stated that he had made a mistake and confirmed that he had voted.

Invited to Register After Obtaining Driver's License

The Spring Valley man also told investigators that he received a voter registration notice from the State of Minnesota and filled it out. The criminal complaint says that was likely caused by the state system sending him voting information after he obtained a Minnesota driver's license.

It also indicates that Chaudhari told the investigator he learned he should not have voted when his lawyer informed him during the green card process.

He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charges next month.

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