Illegal voting charges have ended in a guilty plea for a 23-year-old Haitian national accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms and casting a ballot in the 2024 general election.
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Illegal Voting Update
Valery Zidor pleaded guilty on September 22, 2026, in federal court in South Florida to two counts involving false claims of citizenship made to register to vote and one count of voting by an alien.
The case was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which said it provided assistance during the investigation.
What prosecutors said happened
According to court records cited by federal prosecutors, Zidor submitted two voter registration forms to the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections in connection with the allegations.
The forms allegedly included false claims that she was a U.S. citizen.
Prosecutors said Zidor was not a U.S. citizen when she registered and later voted in the 2024 general election, conduct at the center of the illegal voting case.
The guilty plea resolves the federal allegations without requiring a trial on the charges.
Federal officials said the case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Miami, with USCIS assisting the investigation into the alleged conduct.
The announcement did not identify the specific election contest in which the ballot was cast.
Charges and possible sentence
Zidor pleaded guilty to two counts of making a false claim of U.S. citizenship for the purpose of registering to vote or voting.
She also pleaded guilty to one count of voting by an alien, the illegal voting count in the federal case.
The false-citizenship charges were brought under federal law that makes it a crime to knowingly claim to be a U.S. citizen to register to vote or vote in a federal, state or local election.
That law allows a fine, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
The federal statute covering voting by aliens separately prohibits noncitizens from voting in elections held partly or entirely to select candidates for federal office, subject to limited exceptions for certain local or state-only voting conducted independently.
Violation of that voting provision can carry a fine, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.
Although the false-citizenship statute provides a maximum penalty, the maximum is not an automatic sentence for illegal voting.
A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
No sentencing date or final sentence was included in the USCIS announcement.
Why the case matters for immigration proceedings
Illegal voting and false claims of U.S. citizenship can create consequences beyond a criminal case.
USCIS policy guidance states that unlawful voting, unlawful voter registration and knowingly false claims of citizenship may affect a person’s immigration eligibility and naturalization review.
The guidance is relevant to the immigration consequences of the conduct.
Federal immigration law also contains provisions concerning removability and inadmissibility for certain false claims of citizenship and unlawful voting.
The immigration consequences depend on the person’s conduct, the legal basis for the claim, the available evidence and the person’s immigration history.
A criminal conviction is not the only factor that can matter in an immigration adjudication involving the alleged conduct.
USCIS officers may review records such as voter registration forms, election records, court documents and statements made during immigration proceedings.
That does not mean every voter-registration error produces the same result.
Intent, the wording of the form, the nature of the election and the person’s explanation can be legally significant in an illegal voting review.
Federal law includes a narrow exception for certain individuals who have two citizen parents, permanently lived in the United States before turning 16 and reasonably believed they were citizens when making the claim.
The facts released in this case do not indicate that the exception applies to Zidor.
What the federal statutes provide
Under 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f), knowingly making a false statement or claim of U.S. citizenship to register to vote or vote is a federal offense related to illegal voting.
The statute covers elections at the federal, state and local levels.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 611, an alien generally may not vote in an election held to elect a president, vice president, presidential elector, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, District of Columbia delegate or resident commissioner.
The voting-by-alien statute provides limited exceptions when an election also involves another purpose for which state or local law permits noncitizens to vote and the voting is conducted separately from federal candidate contests.
Those statutory provisions are distinct from state election rules, which may impose additional requirements or penalties.
The charges in Zidor’s illegal voting case were federal charges because the alleged conduct involved false citizenship claims connected to voter registration and voting in a federal election cycle.
Agencies involved in the investigation
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced the guilty plea with Homeland Security Investigations Miami.
USCIS said it provided valuable assistance to investigators.
HSI is investigating the case, while a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney is prosecuting the illegal voting case.
The case was handled through the Border and Immigration Crimes Enforcement section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Federal officials did not release a detailed account of how investigators identified the alleged false claims or how the ballot was linked to the registration forms.
The publicly announced facts also do not establish whether any other person was involved.
What happens next
The immediate next step is federal sentencing for the illegal voting charges.
The judge will review the applicable sentencing range and other factors before imposing a sentence.
The court may also enter orders addressing supervision, fines or other consequences permitted by law.
Separately, immigration authorities may evaluate the conviction and underlying conduct under applicable immigration statutes and USCIS policy.
Any immigration proceeding would be separate from the criminal sentencing process.
The government’s case number is 26-cr-20129 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Court filings and docket information may provide additional details as the case proceeds.
What noncitizens should know about voter registration
Noncitizens should review voter registration forms carefully before signing them.
They should not register to vote in an election unless they are legally eligible under the applicable federal, state and local rules.
A person who discovers a possible registration mistake should obtain advice from a qualified immigration attorney and an election-law attorney before taking corrective action.
People should preserve copies of registration forms, correspondence and election records that may help explain what occurred.
They should also answer immigration forms and USCIS questions truthfully and consistently.
Election eligibility rules can differ by jurisdiction, but federal elections are generally limited to U.S. citizens.
Questions about a specific voter-registration record or immigration case require individualized legal advice.
How to report suspected immigration benefit fraud
USCIS directs the public to use its online tip form to report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse.
A report should be factual and should distinguish firsthand information from assumptions.
Submitting a tip does not determine guilt, guarantee an investigation or replace a court proceeding.
In Zidor’s case, the public record reflects a guilty plea for illegal voting, while the sentencing decision remains pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Haitian national plead guilty to?
Valery Zidor pleaded guilty to two counts of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote or vote and one count of voting by an alien.
When did the alleged voting occur?
Federal prosecutors said Zidor voted in the 2024 general election after submitting two voter registration forms that falsely claimed she was a U.S. citizen.
What sentence could she face?
The false-citizenship charges carry a potential maximum of five years in federal prison, but the judge will determine the sentence after considering the Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Can illegal voting affect immigration status?
Potentially. USCIS policy states that unlawful voting, unlawful registration and false claims of U.S. citizenship may affect immigration eligibility and naturalization, depending on the facts and applicable law.
Fact-Checked: Facts were checked against the USCIS release, the U.S. Department of Justice announcement and the current text of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1015 and 611 on September 23, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not legal or immigration advice.
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