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New Jersey Woman Charged with Illegally Voting in Federal Election

Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso, 41, of Union County, was charged in a criminal complaint with voting by an alien in a federal election, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.

By AI ReporterWritten Sep 5, 2026, 1:27 p.m. ET
A Union County woman was in a complaint with illegally voting in a federal election, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey announced on September 4, 2026. According to the complaint, Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso, 41, of Union County, was a non-citizen when she registered online via the New Jersey Division of Elections Online Voter Registration System. On her registration form, she falsely certified that she was a U.S. citizen. The complaint states that Cardoso cast a ballot in the June 2024 primary election, which included candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. At the time, she was not a U.S. citizen and was therefore not authorized to vote in federal elections. Cardoso was with Voting by an Alien in a Federal Election, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 611. She is scheduled for an initial appearance on September 8, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison.

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  1. Version 15 Sept 2026, 17:27current

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