In a striking case of alleged voter fraud, federal prosecutors have charged Denis Bouchard, a 69-year-old Canadian citizen, with casting ballots in at least two federal elections in North Carolina.
According to the Daily Caller, this case, involving accusations of illegal voting in the 2022 midterms and 2024 presidential election, is part of a wider Trump administration effort to curb foreign nationals' participation in U.S. elections.
Bouchard, who has lived in the U.S. since the 1960s, never gained American citizenship, according to the Department of Justice. Despite this, he is accused of falsely claiming citizenship on voter registration forms for the 2022 midterm elections. He allegedly repeated this act for the 2024 presidential election, casting votes in both contests.
Prosecutors also suspect that Bouchard may have participated in local county elections in North Carolina since the early 2000s. The extent of his alleged involvement in these local races remains under investigation. Federal authorities are collaborating with the North Carolina Board of Elections to uncover the full scope of his actions.
A federal grand jury indicted Bouchard on a recent Tuesday for illegally registering and voting in the specified federal elections. If convicted on each count, he faces up to five years in prison per charge. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle emphasized the gravity of such offenses in a statement to the press.
“Every single time a noncitizen casts an illegal vote in North Carolina, it steals and nullifies the vote of an actual citizen,” said Boyle. “If the records are correct, this Canadian citizen appears to have voted in New Hanover and Pender County elections over the past 20 years,” Boyle added. “We intend to prove his illegal conduct in court and put an end to it,” he concluded.
This indictment aligns with a larger initiative by the Trump administration to address foreign nationals voting in U.S. elections, which is against federal law. In April, two Ukrainian nationals faced charges for unlawfully voting in the 2024 presidential election. During the same month, a 45-year-old Iraqi man was accused of illegal voting in the 2020 presidential contest.
In May, authorities disclosed that a Colombian migrant, living in the U.S. under a false identity for decades, voted in the 2024 election. This individual also allegedly misappropriated nearly $400,000 in various government benefits. These cases highlight the administration's focus on identifying and prosecuting such violations.
In October, Michigan officials charged a Chinese student with voting in the 2024 election after inquiring about retrieving his ballot. The student reportedly left the country just before President Donald Trump’s return to office. These incidents underscore the challenges in maintaining election integrity across state lines.
Since July, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joe Edlow has enhanced resources to help officials remove noncitizens from voter rolls. In March, an executive order from the president instructed the Department of Homeland Security to provide the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database at no cost to states.
This online tool, managed by USCIS, aids in confirming immigration status for various applications.
State leaders have noted that access to this database has greatly improved their ability to prevent voter fraud. In May, the Trump administration collaborated with the Social Security Administration to allow verification of citizenship through Social Security numbers. This step further strengthens the database’s role in protecting the electoral process.
North Carolina, where Bouchard’s case unfolded, is viewed as a competitive state by election analysts. Both Democratic and Republican candidates hold significant statewide positions there. The 2026 race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis is rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report.
The Bouchard case and related charges against foreign nationals reflect a concerted push to uphold the integrity of U.S. elections. Federal and state agencies continue to work together to address these violations. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on ensuring that only eligible citizens participate in the democratic process.