Ukrainian nationals in Florida charged with illegal voting in presidential election

Two female Ukrainian nationals are facing federal charges for allegedly casting votes as noncitizens in the US presidential election during early voting on October 31, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida.

53-year-old Svitlana Demydenko as well as her 22-year-old daughter, Yelyzaveta Demydenko appeared before a federal judge in West Palm Beach on April 29, according to he DOJ. 

Both women arrived in the US on nonimmigrant visas in April 2021, according to the DOJ. Despite lacking US citizenship, they were able to register to vote in August 2024 through a system that mandates voters certify they are US citizens.

On October 31, 2024, Svitlana and Yelyzaveta "voted from Palm Beach in the federal 2024 General Election, which included election of a United States President," the DOJ said.

The announcement of the charges were made by US Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Miami, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Mark Glass.

The investigation was carried out by HSI Miami and the FDLE’s Office of Executive Investigations, Election Crime Unit, with support from the Florida Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security, the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, the US diplomatic Security Service, and the US Department of Government Efficiency.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant US Attorney John McMillan and is an ongoing case. The case comes after there has been a push among Republicans to ensure that those who vote in federal elections are US citizens after millions of illegal immigrants were able to come across the border to the US under former President Joe Biden's administration.