By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In Kansas, Coldwater Mayor Joe Ceballos has been charged with multiple counts of illegal voting. The charges, filed by Attorney General Kris Kobach and Secretary of State Scott Schwab, stem from allegations that Ceballos, a lawful permanent resident from Mexico, voted in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 elections. These charges include voting without being qualified and perjury, as elected officials in Kansas are legally required to be U.S. citizens. Kobach emphasized that noncitizen voting occurs more frequently than perceived, and the legal system relies on the honesty of those registering and participating in elections.
Read the original article here
Kansas AG charges mayor for allegedly voting in elections despite being a noncitizen is a headline that immediately raises questions, and for good reason. It’s a situation that throws a spotlight on the complexities of voting rights, citizenship, and the legal requirements for holding public office, especially when it comes to local elections.
The crux of the matter revolves around Mayor Joe Ceballos of Coldwater, Kansas, a lawful permanent resident from Mexico, who is facing six charges from Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and Secretary of State Scott Schwab. The accusation is that he voted in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 elections. This directly brings up the central issue: can a non-citizen serve as mayor and, more importantly, vote in elections?
The answer, as it turns out, isn’t always straightforward. It hinges on the specific laws of the municipality and the type of election in question. While federal elections are strictly for citizens, local election rules can vary widely. Some cities, for example, have been known to allow non-citizens to vote in local contests, with the idea of allowing representation for those who pay taxes and reside in the community, even if they aren’t citizens.
However, Kansas has a clear position on the matter: non-citizens are prohibited from voting in any election. This creates a potential legal problem for the mayor, depending on the specifics of the elections he participated in. If he voted in federal or state elections, he would be in violation of the law. If it was local elections, the legal waters might become a little murkier, but it still seems that he would have been voting illegally if he is a non-citizen.
Adding another layer of complexity is the history of voter ID laws in Kansas. Years ago, the state implemented a proof-of-citizenship requirement that proved to be a major misstep. The law, which required voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering, ended up blocking the voter registrations of thousands of eligible citizens. This led to legal challenges and ultimately, the law was struck down as unconstitutional. It’s a reminder that even well-intentioned efforts to ensure election integrity can have unintended consequences.
The circumstances surrounding Mayor Ceballos’s case suggest a couple of possibilities. Either he believed he was legally entitled to vote, perhaps misunderstanding the intricacies of local versus federal election laws, or he was aware of the voting laws and voted regardless. A third possibility could be that the elections in question were of a local nature, with less stringent requirements than federal or state elections, or perhaps the local government did not require proof of citizenship.
It is worth noting the involvement of Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a figure well-known for his strong stance on voter fraud and efforts to tighten election laws. It seems that he might be the main instigator in these claims. Considering the past efforts of the state in trying to tighten voter registration and ID rules, it’s fair to wonder if this case is as clear-cut as it seems.
The whole affair raises questions about how the mayor even registered to vote in the first place. Voter registration forms typically require an affirmation of citizenship, and in Kansas, proof of citizenship might be a requirement. This is where incompetence and lack of clarity, or even intentional overlooking, might come into play.
In any event, it appears Mayor Ceballos could be in a precarious situation, and if it’s found that he voted in federal or state elections, it looks like he may have broken the law. This isn’t a simple case of misunderstanding; it touches on issues of trust in the voting system, the integrity of elections, and the rights of both citizens and non-citizens. The outcome will depend on the specifics of the elections in which he participated, the clarity of local versus federal election laws, and any potential defenses he may raise.