A Mexican citizen who was living illegally in Beloit has been charged with unlawfully casting a ballot in the state’s November 2022 election.
Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia, 25, was charged Sept. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin with illegally voting as an alien. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, prosecutors allege Jurado Garcia knew he was not a United States citizen when he voted on Nov. 8, 2022. The election included races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and the Wisconsin Governorship among other offices. (RELATED:Tiffany Makes Affordability Centerpiece of Wisconsin Governor Campaign)
Federal prosecutors say Jurado Garcia could face a maximum of one year in prison if convicted. Any sentence would ultimately be determined by a federal judge after reviewing applicable sentencing guidelines. U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma said his office views enforcement of federal election laws as a fundamental responsibility.
“The charge against this defendant reflects our commitment to enforcing the law,” Elgersma said in announcing the charges.
Wisconsin law restricts voting eligibility to U.S. citizens. Under Wisconsin Statute, an eligible elector must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old and meets the state’s residency requirements. Wisconsin election law also prohibits a person from intentionally voting when that individual does not possess the qualifications required of an elector. (RELATED:Packers Add Kaleb Johnson as Josh Jacobs Lands on Exempt List)
In a part of a larger federal effort, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that five people in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Jersey had been charged with offenses related to illegal voting or fraudulent voter registration in the 2022 or 2024 elections. In this report, Wisconsin is highlighted with the case of Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia in the 2022 November election.
