A 
student — not a US citizen — at University of Michigan voted in Ann Arbor on Oct 27 and is being charged with two crimes — perjury (making a false statement on an affidavit for the purpose of securing voter registration) and being an unauthorized elector who attempted to vote.
The unidentified 19-year-old individual was legally present in the US but not a citizen, which meant he couldn't legally cast a ballot. He registered to vote on Sunday using his UM student identification and other documentation establishing residency in Ann Arbor, he signed a document identifying himself as a US citizen and his ballot was entered into a tabulator.
The ballot was cast at an early voting site at the University of Michigan Museum of Art on State Street. Later, the UM student voter contacted the local clerk's office, asking if he could somehow get his ballot back.
The student's ballot is expected to count in the upcoming election — although it was illegally cast — because there is no way for election officials to retrieve it once it's been put through a tabulator. The setup is meant to prevent ballots from being tracked back to an individual voter.
The person is being charged with perjury and being an unauthorized elector who attempted to vote. The latter allegation is a felony punishable by up to four years behind bars and a fine of up to $2,000 according to Michigan law. The standard penalty for perjury in Michigan is 15 years in prison, but it's unclear what it would be in this case involving lying on an application to vote.
"Anyone who attempts to vote illegally faces significant consequences, including but not limited to arrest and prosecution.”
“Through a series of actions, the student was apparently able to register, receive a ballot and cast a vote. Based upon the scenario that we’re hearing this morning, the student was fully aware of what he was doing, and that it was not legal.”
As of Oct 30 afternoon, the student had not yet been arraigned. The student is being represented by UM Student Legal Services.
detroitnews.com/story/news/pol
student — not a US citizen — at University of Michigan voted in Ann Arbor on Oct 27 and is being charged with two crimes — perjury (making a false statement on an affidavit for the purpose of securing voter registration) and being an unauthorized elector who attempted to vote.
The unidentified 19-year-old individual was legally present in the US but not a citizen, which meant he couldn't legally cast a ballot. He registered to vote on Sunday using his UM student identification and other documentation establishing residency in Ann Arbor, he signed a document identifying himself as a US citizen and his ballot was entered into a tabulator.
The ballot was cast at an early voting site at the University of Michigan Museum of Art on State Street. Later, the UM student voter contacted the local clerk's office, asking if he could somehow get his ballot back.
The student's ballot is expected to count in the upcoming election — although it was illegally cast — because there is no way for election officials to retrieve it once it's been put through a tabulator. The setup is meant to prevent ballots from being tracked back to an individual voter.
The person is being charged with perjury and being an unauthorized elector who attempted to vote. The latter allegation is a felony punishable by up to four years behind bars and a fine of up to $2,000 according to Michigan law. The standard penalty for perjury in Michigan is 15 years in prison, but it's unclear what it would be in this case involving lying on an application to vote.
"Anyone who attempts to vote illegally faces significant consequences, including but not limited to arrest and prosecution.”
“Through a series of actions, the student was apparently able to register, receive a ballot and cast a vote. Based upon the scenario that we’re hearing this morning, the student was fully aware of what he was doing, and that it was not legal.”
As of Oct 30 afternoon, the student had not yet been arraigned. The student is being represented by UM Student Legal Services.
detroitnews.com/story/news/pol