Eliezer Kadoch, 39, of Toms River, has entered a guilty plea to charges of voting by an alien in a federal election. The admission was made before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Brandon Day at the federal courthouse in Trenton, according to an official statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.
Court documents indicate that Kadoch, a citizen of France who has never obtained U.S. citizenship, unlawfully participated in the election held on November 8, 2022. This election included contests for members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Mr. Kadoch accepted responsibility for his actions,” his representative stated. “There was never any intent to violate the law or cast an unlawful ballot. Unfortunately, the offense to which he pleaded guilty does not require proof of criminal intent, and he now fully understands that.”
Authorities have stated that Kadoch could face a sentence of up to six months in federal prison and a fine of $100,000. His sentencing is currently scheduled for October 26.
Concerns Over Non-Citizen Voter Registration
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has previously highlighted that the practice of issuing driver's licenses to noncitizens, when combined with automatic voter registration systems, can inadvertently lead to these individuals being added to official voter rolls.
In recent years, the non-profit organization reported that numerous states across the country have investigated this issue. States such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia have reportedly identified noncitizens present on their voter registration lists.
To address these concerns, model legislation proposed by AFPI suggests solutions including a requirement for proof of citizenship to register to vote, along with the implementation of robust audit procedures to ensure that noncitizens are not improperly enrolled on voter rolls.
Election Integrity Task Force Investigation
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer noted that this specific case was brought forth by the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force. This task force is described as a collaborative effort involving various federal law enforcement agencies, all dedicated to upholding and safeguarding the integrity of elections within New Jersey.
The investigation into Kadoch's actions was a joint undertaking, involving the specialized agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Details regarding Kadoch's specific immigration status have not been publicly disclosed.
