Three charged with voting illegally in Ohio

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(The Center Square) – Federal prosecutors charged three people they say are not American citizens for voting in U.S. federal elections in Ohio.

The elections were for president, vice president, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

“Unlawfully voting in a federal election as an alien is punishable by up to 12 months in prison,” prosecutors said.

One of the defendants, Cary Ann Patterson, 59, a subject of the United Kingdom with lawful permanent resident status, is accused of voting in at least 10 U.S. elections, according to prosecutors.

According to court documents, in 2005, the Gallia County Board of Elections received a voter registration card for Patterson in which 'Yes' was marked in response to the question, "Are you a U.S. citizen?" according to prosecutors.

Arshed Zuberi, 69, from Pakistan, who also has permanent resident status, is accused of registering to vote in September 2015 and August 2016 and declared, “I am a citizen of the United States,” prosecutors said. According to Cuyahoga County Board of Elections records, Zuberi voted in at least six U.S. elections. 

Eliza M. Moss, 63, a citizen of the Philippines, says she was told that “she could vote despite not being a citizen” by someone who helped her fill out a voter registration form, prosecutors say.

The criminal complaints were filed in Columbus and Cleveland.