A small Kansas town has been thrust into the national spotlight after its mayor was charged with multiple counts of voter fraud. Authorities allege that Joe Ceballos, the mayor of Coldwater, voted in several U.S. elections despite not being a citizen — a case that state officials say exposes a broader issue with the integrity of voter registration systems.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and Secretary of State Scott Schwab, both Republican officials, announced on Wednesday that six criminal charges have been filed against Ceballos, who is a legal permanent resident originally from Mexico. The allegations accuse him of voting illegally in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 elections.
According to Fox News, Ceballos previously served as a city councilman before becoming mayor of Coldwater, a rural town with fewer than 1,000 residents.
The Charges and Potential Consequences
The formal complaint against Ceballos includes charges of voting while not qualified and lying under oath. If convicted, he could face more than five years in prison.
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