Kamal Ghorui
A Canadian citizen living in North Carolina has pleaded guilty to illegally voting in US elections after falsely claiming to be an American citizen, federal prosecutors said.70-year-old Denis Bouchard admitted in federal court that he falsely stated he was a US citizen on voter registration applications in order to vote in the 2022 midterm election and the 2024 presidential election.Prosecutors said Bouchard has lived in the United States since the 1960s but never obtained US citizenship.Court records show Bouchard registered to vote in North Carolina and certified that he was a US citizen, which allowed him to cast ballots in federal elections. Federal law allows only US citizens to vote in federal elections.Prosecutors said Bouchard voted in the 2022 congressional election and again in the 2024 presidential election. Both votes were cast after he falsely claimed citizenship on voter registration forms, according to court documents.Bouchard now faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. Each count of falsely claiming US citizenship in order to vote carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison.Investigators believe Bouchard may have voted in elections in New Hanover and Pender counties for many years, possibly dating back two decades. However, he was charged only for actions tied to the 2022 and 2024 elections. A spokesperson for the US attorney’s office said some federal crimes have a five-year statute of limitations, which can limit how far back charges can be filed.US Attorney Ellis Boyle said in a statement that illegal voting by noncitizens undermines confidence in elections. He said investigators and election officials worked together to identify the case.
