Three Ohio residents charged with illegally voting as noncitizens

Federal prosecutors have charged three Ohio residents with illegally voting in federal elections as noncitizens, including one woman accused of voting in at least 10 elections.

U.S. attorneys for Ohio’s Southern and Northern districts announced the charges in separate cases involving three lawful permanent residents accused of voting despite not being U.S. citizens.

Cary Ann Patterson, 59, a United Kingdom citizen and lawful permanent resident, was charged in Ohio’s Southern District with illegally voting as an alien in a federal election.

According to federal prosecutors, the Gallia County Board of Elections received a voter registration card for Patterson in 2005 that had “Yes” marked in response to a question asking whether she was a U.S. citizen.

Board of elections records indicate Patterson subsequently voted in at least 10 elections despite allegedly not being a citizen, prosecutors said. The criminal complaint specifically alleges that she voted Nov. 5, 2024.

Prosecutors filed two additional cases in Ohio’s Northern District. Arshed Zuberi, 69, a Pakistani national and lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in September 2015 and again in August 2016.

His signature appeared next to a declaration stating, “I declare under penalty of election falsification I am a citizen of the United States,” according to federal prosecutors.

Cuyahoga County Board of Elections records indicate Zuberi voted in at least six elections.

Prosecutors also charged Eliza M. Moss, 63, a citizen of the Philippines and lawful permanent resident, with illegally voting as an alien in a federal election. State and Ashtabula County voting records show Moss registered to vote in September 2004 and again in February 2023, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Her signature also appeared next to a declaration stating that she was a U.S. citizen.

Moss allegedly voted in several primary and general elections. According to the criminal complaint, Moss told investigators that the person who helped her complete her registration told her she could vote even though she was not a citizen.

Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in elections for president, vice president, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House. Illegally voting as a noncitizen in a federal election is punishable by up to one year in prison.