Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Thursday that five noncitizens have been criminally charged in connection with allegations that they illegally voted or attempted to vote in the 2024 general election. The charges emerged from a broader state investigation into suspected instances of noncitizen voting and other election-related conduct, with dozens of cases referred to the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
"We’re upholding election integrity by investigating all claims of non-citizen voters, as rare as they are, and holding bad actors accountable when they refuse to abide by the laws that keep our elections safe and secure." — Dana Nessel, Michigan Attorney General
Throughout 2025, the Michigan Department of State referred 16 cases involving suspected noncitizen voting in the November 2024 general election to Nessel’s office. An additional 22 cases were referred in 2026, encompassing suspected noncitizen voting or related activity in elections spanning from 2009 through 2025. Of the total 38 cases referred for review, six have resulted in criminal charges to date, ten have been closed without charges, and 22 remain under active review. Five of the six individuals charged are noncitizens, while the sixth is a U.S. citizen accused of registering a noncitizen spouse to vote.
The five noncitizens facing charges include individuals identified as lawful permanent residents, a limited-term alien resident, and a United Kingdom resident. According to Nessel’s office, none of these individuals held U.S. citizenship. They are confronting a range of misdemeanor and felony charges, which include fraudulent registration, election law forgery, perjury, making false statements on absentee ballot materials, and attempting to vote as an unqualified elector. The potential penalties for these offenses vary significantly, from 90 days in jail to several years in prison, depending on the specific charge and its classification.
Attorney General Nessel emphasized her office's commitment to pursuing election-related crimes, stating, "In my office, we’ve always taken election crimes seriously, and prosecute attacks on our voting systems to the fullest extent of the law." She further articulated the state's dedication to maintaining election integrity: "We’re upholding election integrity by investigating all claims of non-citizen voters, as rare as they are, and holding bad actors accountable when they refuse to abide by the laws that keep our elections safe and secure." Nessel underscored that these charges serve as a clear demonstration of the serious consequences awaiting individuals accused of violating Michigan's election laws. She added, "These charges reflect the severity of the allegations, the sanctity of our democracy, and the tremendous consequences of voting illegally — whether that’s done to try and ‘test’ security measures or to make an unlawful vote count."
The investigation has also highlighted that not all referrals concerning suspected noncitizen voting ultimately lead to criminal charges. Among the ten cases that were closed, investigators determined that two of the referred individuals were, in fact, U.S. citizens. Another individual was presumed to be a citizen based on an international adoption at an early age, despite incomplete records. Investigators also examined the case of a federally recognized American Indian born in Canada who did not possess U.S. citizenship or voting rights. Nessel noted that some investigations have been complicated by limitations on state officials’ access to comprehensive federal citizenship records.
Regardless of whether criminal charges were ultimately filed, Michigan officials have taken decisive action against voter registrations associated with identified noncitizen voters. The Attorney General’s office confirmed that the voter registrations linked to every identified noncitizen voter in the referrals have been canceled.
All five noncitizens now facing charges are alleged to have cast ballots among the more than 5.7 million ballots submitted in Michigan during the November 2024 general election. While these cases represent a tiny fraction of the total votes cast statewide, they emerge amidst an ongoing national debate over election security and the efficacy of safeguards designed to prevent individuals who are not U.S. citizens from participating in federal and state elections. The integrity of the electoral process, particularly regarding voter eligibility, remains a central point of discussion among policymakers, election officials, and the public across the United States.
