A 66-year-old Kahului woman is facing federal charges after prosecutors say she cast ballots in two federal elections even though she was not a U.S. citizen at the time. Authorities identified her as Remedios Alasaas of Kahului, Maui, and allege she voted in the Nov. 8, 2022, general election and the Aug. 10, 2024, primary.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii, Alasaas, a Filipino national, came to the United States around 2014 on an immigrant visa and registered to vote soon after arriving. Prosecutors say she was charged on June 1, 2026, by information with unlawfully voting as an alien and that she understood she was not a citizen when she allegedly cast those ballots, as reflected in federal court records.
If convicted, Alasaas faces up to one year in prison for each count, a term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates is prosecuting the case.
“The right of the people to vote in Federal elections belongs solely to American citizens,” U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said in the announcement. FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter added that the FBI will “hold accountable anyone who undermines the fairness of our democracy,” according to the same release. The office also emphasized that the charges are accusations and that Alasaas is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Federal court records show Alasaas was charged with two misdemeanor counts of unlawfully voting as an alien and was scheduled to make an initial appearance on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry M. Kurren, reporting by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser states. The Star-Advertiser account places Alasaas in Kahului on Maui and notes that the FBI is investigating the matter.
Legal Context and Penalties
Federal law bars non-citizens from voting in federal elections. Under 18 U.S.C. § 611, it is unlawful for an "alien" to vote in an election for President, Vice President, or members of Congress, and violations carry criminal penalties. The statute includes a narrow exception for people who were raised by U.S. citizen parents, lived permanently in the United States before turning 16, and reasonably believed they were citizens when they voted.
For a plain-language explanation of who can vote in federal contests, USA.gov notes that only U.S. citizens may vote in federal elections. The full statutory text is available at 18 U.S.C. § 611.
What to Watch
The case is expected to proceed through an initial appearance and any pretrial hearings in federal court. As in all criminal matters, the defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence and the right to counsel.
Similar federal voting cases have surfaced in other districts this year, including recent charges in New Jersey, according to national reporting. Further details in the Maui case are likely to emerge as additional court records are filed and officials release more information, and this story will be updated as that happens.
