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UpdateNew YorkFriday, November 6, 2026

Two legal permanent residents charged with voting illegally in New York

Two foreign nationals were charged with voting in the 2024 General Election while knowing they were not U.S. citizens.

By the Democracy SENTRY deskPublished

Reporting by
Justice Department
“Indian and Afghan Nationals Charged with Voter Fraud”, Friday, November 6, 2026
Read the full story
What happened

Two foreign nationals living in New York were charged with voting illegally in the 2024 General Election after appearing on separate complaints on October 30, 2026. Pooja Pawse, 31, an Indian national of Lake Placid, and Mobin Tora Kheil, 33, an Afghan national of Troy, are both legal permanent residents accused of casting ballots while knowing they were not U.S. citizens. The cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Belliss and Benjamin Loefke.1

Key dates in New York

Election Day in -7 days
  1. Sat, Oct 24 · passed
    Early voting begins; Registration deadline
  2. Sun, Nov 1 · passed
    Early voting ends
  3. Mon, Nov 2 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  4. Tue, Nov 3 · passed
    Election Day
  5. Sat, Nov 28 · 18 days
    County/Local certification
  6. Tue, Dec 15 · 35 days
    State certification

Every date in New York, and who certifies the election

More on this story
New York · Oct 26
Syracuse woman charged with voting illegally says she didn't know she wasn't a citizen
Reporting by PBS
The answers behind this
Voter ID and proof of citizenshipVoting in New York, 2026Can noncitizens vote?Who certifies the election in New York, and by when?

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Sources

  1. Justice Department, https://justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/indian-and-afghan-nationals-charged-voter-fraud · Friday, November 6, 2026

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