Maryland Man Indicted for Falsely Registering to Vote in Bernalillo County
A Maryland man faces a federal charge for falsely registering to vote in Bernalillo County. Prosecutors say he claimed New Mexico residency on a 2022 registration application. A federal grand jury indicted the 63-year-old Annapolis man on Oct. 20. The indictment alleges he submitted a voter registration application to the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Bureau of Elections on or about Sept. 18, 2022. The application falsely claimed New Mexico residency.
Agents arrested the man in Milwaukee on Monday. He appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Wisconsin. He was released on bond. His case now heads to federal court in New Mexico.
“Residency isn’t a matter of convenience when it comes to voting,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said. FBI Albuquerque Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris struck a firmer tone. “If you commit a crime in New Mexico, justice will find you,” Garris said.
The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office is led by Clerk Michelle Kavanaugh. The office said it is cooperating with federal authorities. It remains committed to running elections under state and federal law. The office referred questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the case involves an ongoing federal prosecution. Federal prosecutors credited the clerk’s elections bureau with helping the FBI investigate.
The man faces one count under 52 U.S.C. § 20511(2)(A). The law covers submitting materially false voter registration applications. Neither the indictment nor the release says whether he cast a ballot in New Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J. Sullivan and Emil J. Kiehne are prosecuting. An indictment is only an allegation. The man is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Voter registration records who is eligible to vote in a jurisdiction. Residency requirements tie registration to where a person lives. Federal law bars materially false registration applications.
New Mexicans head to the polls for the Nov. 3 general election. Voters in Bernalillo County can check their registration through the New Mexico voter portal.
