A University of Michigan student, originally from China, faces legal repercussions after allegedly voting in Ann Arbor on Sunday. Despite not holding U.S. citizenship, the student utilized his UM student ID and additional documents that affirmed his residency to register to vote.

The Secretary of State’s office reported that he signed a document falsely identifying himself as a U.S. citizen. Although he has been charged with two crimes, his ballot, already processed through a tabulator, will be counted in the election set to occur in just six days.

The Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office, in conjunction with the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office, announced the charges on Wednesday. While the press release did not disclose the identity of the student, it described him simply as “a non-U.S. citizen,” first reported by The Detroit News.

The 19-year-old student from China, who was legally present in the U.S. but not a citizen, cast a ballot at an early voting site located at the University of Michigan Museum of Art on State Street. This was disclosed by the Ann Arbor city administrator. Although not eligible to vote, the student later attempted to retrieve his ballot by contacting the local clerk’s office, as noted by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office.

Despite the illegal nature of his vote, the ballot is expected to be counted in the upcoming election. Election officials are unable to retract a ballot once it has been processed through a tabulator, designed to ensure voter anonymity according to Michigan voting laws.

“We’re grateful for the swift action of the clerk in this case, who took the appropriate steps and referred the case to law enforcement,” stated the offices of Benson and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit in a joint release. “We are also grateful to law enforcement for swiftly and thoroughly investigating this case. Anyone who attempts to vote illegally faces significant consequences, including but not limited to arrest and prosecution.”

According to The Detroit News, the individual faces charges of perjury for allegedly providing false statements on a voter registration affidavit and being an unauthorized elector who attempted to vote. The latter charge is considered a felony in Michigan, potentially leading to up to four years in prison and a fine of as much as $2,000. Perjury typically carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison in Michigan, although the specific consequences in this voter application case remain uncertain.

In an email with Ann Arbor City Council members, which was later accessed by The Detroit News, the city’s administrator, Milton Dohoney Jr. reported an instance of “potential voter fraud in Ann Arbor.” This involved a University of Michigan student, a green card holder.

“Through a series of actions, the student was apparently able to register, receive a ballot and cast a vote,” Dohoney stated in his Monday email. He added, “Based upon the scenario that we’re hearing this morning, the student was fully aware of what he was doing, and that it was not legal.” Dohoney also mentioned in the email that he anticipates this story might attract “picked up by the regional or perhaps national media.”

Michigan holds a critical position as a swing state in the elections, often proving pivotal in determining the outcome.

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