Federal Judge Sentences Noncitizen To Prison For Illegally Voting In North Carolina

This week, a federal judge sentenced a Canadian citizen to two months in federal prison for making false claims of United States citizenship to vote in the 2022 elections and 2024 presidential election.

“We will not allow aliens to disrupt and degrade the U.S. democratic system by lying to pervert the outcome our elections. Every American citizen’s vote is sacred. Allowing a single illegal vote by any ineligible person destroys and negates a citizen’s vote. We have had recent statewide elections decided by 401 votes; some local elections decided by about 20 votes. It happened here, and it can happen anywhere.” United States Attorney W. Ellis Boyle stated today. “The prison sentence that the Court imposed sends a strong warning about the consequences of attempting to take advantage of this country’s free and fair election process.  We will protect the Constitutional right of citizens to vote, and prosecute those who attempt to corrupt that system.”

Denis Bouchard, 70, falsely claimed to be a United States citizen when he voted, including registering to vote in the 2024 presidential election. He illegally certified that he was a United States citizen on North Carolina voter registration applications and ballots. Bouchard made these false claims of citizenship to vote in North Carolina elections dating back to 2004.  Voting records confirm that he unlawfully cast a ballot in nine federal elections between 2004 and 2024. 

North Carolina State Board of Elections Director Sam Hayes said, “My administration takes the issue of non-citizen voting very seriously. As we did here, we will continue to work diligently with state & federal authorities to prosecute voter fraud to the fullest extent of the law.

Bouchard pleaded guilty to two counts of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f). Bouchard also faces one year of supervised release and will be subject to immigration consequences.