Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed felony election fraud charges against Coldwater Mayor Jose "Joe" Ceballos following allegations of illegal voting activity. The charges surfaced on Wednesday, a day after Ceballos secured re-election for his second term. According to reports from the Kansas Reflector, the 54-year-old mayor faces six counts, including three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury.
The charges against Ceballos, who is a legal permanent resident and citizen of Mexico, stem from his alleged participation in the 2022 general election, the 2023 local election, and the 2024 primary election. Attorney General Kobach described the unfolding situation as "a breach of trust." He emphasized that voters have a responsibility to accurately attest to their eligibility when they sign registration forms or poll books. Kobach's remarks, as noted by The Topeka-Capital Journal, highlight the trust-based nature of the current electoral system and the alleged violation of that trust by Ceballos.
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab indicated the role of new federal verification tools in identifying ineligible voters. The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is designed to confirm individuals' citizenship and immigration status for voting and other government benefits. This program, praised for its effectiveness, has recently been bolstered by the current White House, providing authorities with enhanced capabilities not available for over a decade.
The Coldwater City Council is addressing the situation with a special meeting called by Council President Britt Lenertz, who assured the community that city operations would continue smoothly during this period of legal scrutiny. Lenertz expressed the council's intention to let due legal processes unfold before making further comments. Ceballos, who served two terms on the city council before his mayoral election in 2021, applied for U.S. citizenship in February of this year. City Attorney Skip Herd confirmed that Ceballos had been on the voter rolls since 1990, raising concerns about his eligibility.
The charges against Mayor Ceballos carry substantial penalties, with potential prison sentences of up to 34 months for each count of voting without qualification and up to 17 months for each election perjury charge. Fines could reach up to $100,000 per violation. Kobach underscored the broader implications of the case for electoral integrity, emphasizing that even a small number of illegal votes could potentially disenfranchise legitimate U.S. citizens.
As Coldwater becomes a focal point in the broader conversation about election integrity and municipal governance, its leaders and residents are closely observing the unfolding events. With discussions around citizenship verification and electoral integrity intensifying, the community awaits the due process and legal resolution of Mayor Ceballos's status.
