Sacramento residents accused of illegal voting in federal elections
By Maricela De La Cruz
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SACRAMENTO (KCRA) — Two Sacramento residents are among the 28 lawful permanent residents facing federal charges for allegedly registering to vote and casting ballots in federal elections despite not being U.S. citizens.
Kamlesh Shah, a 68-year-old Sacramento resident, is accused of registering to vote in 2024 and knowingly voting in races for president, vice president, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. Shah said he believed he was eligible to vote because he had a Real ID.
“I thought I was qualified to vote, I didn’t know anything about. That’s why I asked the officer,” Shah said.
Shah, who has lived in the United States for 30 years, said he previously applied for citizenship but never received a response. He faces one count of “voting by an alien in a federal election,” a charge that carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
When asked why he voted, Shah reiterated his belief that his Real ID made him eligible.
“Do you remember registering to vote?” Shah was asked.
“Yeah, I think I went there, I don’t know to the community center,” he said.
“Did anyone ever tell you that you were not eligible to vote?”
“No, nobody told me. See, that’s very confusing because when I went there, the officer – the election officer over there – didn’t say anything about it. He just asked me for my ID and my number,” Shah said.
Shah said he is nervous about the charge and hopes to find an attorney to represent him.
“I’m feeling very depressed, very full of anxiety. I’m disabled. I’ve got so much problems in my heart, my condition, so it’s going to give me more stress,” Shah said. “I’m very upset. I’m trying to get an attorney, hopefully I can have the charges dismissed.”
Federal authorities have also accused Juan Antonio Rivas Garcia, another Sacramento resident, of illegally registering to vote. Court documents allege Rivas registered in 2018 and 2020 and cast ballots in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections.
The complaint states Rivas Garcia’s 2020 registration listed Spanish as his preferred language, while his 2018 and 2022 applications were handwritten in English. A family member said Rivas Garcia is not fluent in English and that the family was unaware of the alleged voting until hearing his name on the news.
A spokesperson for the Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections Department said voter information for both individuals has been flagged. The spokesperson added that any further action will depend on the outcome of federal proceedings and guidance from the California Secretary of State.
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