A federal judge sentenced a Canadian to two months in federal prison for making false claims of U.S. citizenship to vote in the 2022 elections and the 2024 presidential election.

Denis Bouchard, 70, falsely claimed to be a United States citizen when he voted, including registering to vote in the 2024 presidential election.

Mr Bouchard resided in the United States since the 1960s but never became a citizen.

He illegally certified that he was a United States citizen on North Carolina voter registration applications and ballots. Bouchard made these false claims of citizenship to vote in North Carolina elections dating back to 2004.  

Voting records confirm that he unlawfully cast a ballot in nine federal elections between 2004 and 2024.

Mr Bouchard pleaded guilty to two counts of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f). Mr Bouchard also faces one year of supervised release and will face immigration consequences.    

“We will not allow aliens to disrupt and degrade the U.S. democratic system by lying to pervert the outcome of our elections. Every American citizen’s vote is sacred. Allowing a single illegal vote by any ineligible person destroys and negates a citizen’s vote.

“We have had recent statewide elections decided by 401 votes; some local elections decided by about 20 votes. It happened here, and it can happen anywhere.” United States attorney W. Ellis Boyle stated.

Mr Boyle added, “The prison sentence that the Court imposed sends a strong warning about the consequences of attempting to take advantage of this country’s free and fair election process.  We will protect the Constitutional right of citizens to vote, and prosecute those who attempt to corrupt that system.”