WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2026 — The U.S. Justice Department announced election-related charges involving 16 people in cases across multiple states, alleging offenses in prior elections that include voting by people who are not U.S. citizens, registering with false citizenship information, casting more than one ballot in an election and attempting to submit a deceased person’s absentee ballot.
The department’s October 12 announcement lists allegations handled by several U.S. Attorney’s Offices. One New Mexico defendant is accused of trying to submit his late wife’s absentee ballot in the November 2024 election. An individual from North Carolina is accused of voting in both North Carolina and Alabama during the same 2024 general election. Other cases involve alleged voting by individuals who were not U.S. citizens.
The cases are at different procedural stages, including criminal complaints, informations and indictments. These documents contain accusations, not findings of guilt. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. SNN has not independently reviewed the underlying evidence in every case.
The announcement does not show that any alleged offense changed an election result. Nor does the number of charges alone establish how often election-related violations occur nationwide. These distinctions are especially important as states prepare for the November 3 midterm elections.
The Justice Department’s release identifies the jurisdictions and alleged conduct for readers who want to consult the official account. Future court filings, case resolutions and election-office records may provide additional context.
