Kansas officials charged Joe Ceballos, mayor of Coldwater, with voting in multiple elections despite not being a U.S. citizen. Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Attorney General Kris Kobach, both Republicans, filed six charges against Ceballos, a legal permanent resident from Mexico, for allegedly voting in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Ceballos, a former city councilman, could face more than five years in prison for charges including lying under oath and casting votes while ineligible. Kobach, a longtime immigration hardliner and ally of former President Trump, emphasized that noncitizen voting is a recurring problem and defended the state’s efforts to identify irregularities using outside databases.

Kobach and Schwab argued that election trust is foundational, with voters expected to truthfully certify their citizenship when registering or voting. While Kobach said city officials must be U.S. citizens, he noted that holding office without citizenship is “worth noting” but not itself a crime. Investigators claim to have “unassailable evidence” of Ceballos’ ineligibility, though the state did not detail how this information was discovered. Ceballos was on the ballot for re-election in the mayoral race, but results have not yet been confirmed. His first court appearance is scheduled for December 3.

The charges against Ceballos come amid the nearly 40-day federal government shutdown, as Democratic leaders push for bipartisan negotiations to reopen the government. Reports indicate a potential “three-legged” deal under discussion, including a Senate vote on ACA tax credits, a short-term continuing resolution to allow more time for a full-year budget, and funding for military construction, the legislative branch, and agriculture programs. Previously, the House had passed a funding bill through November 21, meaning any Senate deal will require the House to reconvene to approve extended funding. The Ceballos case highlights ongoing concerns over election integrity, citizenship verification, and the intersection of local politics with broader national governance challenges.