A Kansas mayor has been charged with election fraud after allegedly casting votes in multiple elections without meeting U.S. citizenship requirements. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced Wednesday that his office filed criminal charges against Coldwater Mayor Jose Ceballos, a legal permanent resident from Mexico.
Ceballos, who was re-elected in November 2024, is accused of voting in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 elections despite not being a U.S. citizen. The charges include three counts of voting without qualification and three counts of election perjury. If convicted, Ceballos could face more than five years in prison.
Kobach emphasized the importance of voter integrity, stating, “Our system is based on trust that individuals registering to vote are truthful about their citizenship status.” He noted that Ceballos, a Mexican citizen, was identified through Kansas’ SAVE program, which verifies voter eligibility.
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, who previously collaborated with Kobach on citizenship verification laws, supported the case, highlighting the need for stricter voting regulations. The city of Coldwater issued a statement, pledging to uphold due process while ensuring continued municipal operations amid the legal proceedings.
