A federal grand jury in Minnesota has indicted 10 foreign nationals on charges tied to allegedly registering to vote or casting ballots illegally in federal elections, with the accused conduct stretching across three separate election cycles and one defendant allegedly voting as recently as this past August. The defendants made initial court appearances in federal court.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the indictments were returned on September 24 and stem from investigations by Homeland Security Investigations, with prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota. As reported by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, the case centers on 10 foreign nationals accused of voting illegally in Minnesota elections, with one defendant allegedly casting a ballot in the August 2026 primary.
Eight Countries, Three Election Cycles
The 10 defendants represent eight countries of origin, according to Adomonline.com. All 10 made initial appearances in federal court.
The alleged illegal voter registration and ballot casting spanned the November 8, 2022 general election, the November 5, 2024 general election, and the August 11, 2026 primary election, the Justice Department said in its announcement. Federal officials highlighted that one defendant allegedly voted as recently as August 2026.
Individual Cases Detail Distinct Allegations
Among those charged, 63-year-old Ghanaian national and lawful permanent resident Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie faces three counts after allegedly making false citizenship claims on October 23, 2024, and again on August 11, 2026, and casting an illegal ballot in the August 2026 Minnesota primary, according to Alpha News. Edzie made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 28.
A separate case involves 61-year-old Liberian national and lawful permanent resident Bhator Konah Bryant, who was charged with making a false claim of citizenship when registering to vote on October 18, 2024, but was not charged with actually casting a ballot, the outlet reports. Bryant made her initial court appearance on September 29.
Potential Penalties and Immigration Fallout
Falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register or vote carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, while voting by a non-citizen is a Class A misdemeanor carrying up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, per the Department of Justice. Department of Homeland Security leadership noted that convictions also carry mandatory immigration consequences, including deportation.
The Minnesota indictments arrive amid a broader nationwide federal crackdown on election-related crimes. Earlier in September, the Justice Department announced charges against 16 individuals across multiple states, including eight foreign nationals charged in Texas for illegal voting.
Legal Challenges Emerging Elsewhere
Not all defendants facing similar federal charges are taking the allegations lying down. In September, non-citizen defendants facing federal illegal voting charges in Florida and Wisconsin filed novel federal court challenges arguing that the 1996 federal Voting by Aliens statute is unconstitutional because state governments hold sole authority to regulate voter qualifications, according to a report cited by Reuters. Federal prosecutors have countered that Congress holds explicit authority over immigration and federal election integrity.
It remains unclear whether similar constitutional challenges will emerge among the Minnesota defendants as their cases proceed through federal court.
A Small Fraction of a Record Turnout
Seven of the indicted non-citizens allegedly cast illegal ballots during Minnesota's November 2024 general election, a contest in which more than 3.2 million total ballots were cast statewide, according to the Minnesota News Network. Minnesota consistently ranks among the top U.S. states in voter turnout, and the handful of allegedly illegal votes represents a tiny fraction of that total.
The cases also raise broader questions about Minnesota's election procedures.
Key questions remain about how the 10 Minnesota cases will proceed through federal court and what specific mechanisms allowed the non-citizens to register or receive ballots in the first place.
