Kamlesh Navnitlal Shah, 67, a retired dentist from California, was charged with fraudulently registering to vote in the 2024 election after a federal investigation flagged his name on a list of non‑citizen voters.
The federal "Operation Protect the Vote" initiative has charged a group of non‑citizen voters in California, coordinating the four U.S. Attorney’s offices to root out illegal voting.
All defendants are green‑card holders, and under federal law only citizens may cast ballots; the law treats any attempt by non‑citizens as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
California refused to set aside the mail‑in ballots of those accused, prompting a lawsuit filed by the U.S. government seeking a court order to prevent the alleged dilution of lawful voters. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter warned, "Every illegal vote cancels out the vote of a lawful American citizen."
Shah, who suffered a severe accident five to six years ago that left him in a six‑month coma, said he had no idea he was ineligible to vote and that no one had warned him.