The man charged with knowingly making a false claim of US citizenship in order to vote. (Pic: Reuters)

Indian man charged in US over false citizenship claim to vote in 2024 election

Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari falsely claimed to be a US citizen when signing a voter certificate and cast a ballot in Minnesota's 2024 general election.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari indicted in Minnesota
  • Accused of voting in 2024 election by claiming US citizenship
  • May face up to five years imprisonment per count if convicted

An Indian national has been charged in the US with allegedly falsely claiming to be an American citizen in order to vote in the 2024 general election, in which Republican Donald Trump defeated Democratic nominee Kamala Harris to win the presidency.

The US Justice Department said a federal grand jury in Minnesota indicted the man, Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, on Thursday on two counts. He is accused of knowingly falsely claiming to be a US citizen so he could vote in the November election.

According to the indictment, on or about November 5, 2024, Chaudhari signed a voter signature certificate required under Minnesota law to cast his ballot in the general election. The certificate required voters to swear or affirm that they were US citizens.

The indictment alleges that Chaudhari was not a US citizen and knowingly made the false citizenship statement in order to vote. He faces one count of providing false information and one count of making a false claim of citizenship to register to vote.

"The right to vote is a sacred privilege of American citizenship, and every lawful voter deserves an election system in which that right is protected," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said.

"The department will hold accountable those who knowingly make false claims of citizenship in order to vote. The integrity of our elections depends on ensuring that only eligible citizens cast ballots and that every lawful vote is counted," Dhillon said.

If convicted, Chaudhari faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count, according to the Justice Department.

The case centres on allegations that Chaudhari falsely claimed US citizenship while signing the voter certificate and voting in the 2024 general election.

- Ends