Criminal10/24/2026

Israeli Charged in the U.S. With Voting Illegally in an Election

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Yehuda Paar, a 30-year-old Israeli citizen, was charged with voting illegally in the 2024 presidential election. He lives in Pennsylvania as a green card holder but is not a U.S. citizen.

Key facts

•Defendant: Yehuda Paar, 30
•Place of residence: Pennsylvania, U.S.
•Election: the 2024 U.S. presidential election
•Possible penalty: up to one year in prison and a fine
•Total number of foreign nationals charged: nine

What He Is Accused Of

According to the department’s announcement, Paar voted in the 2024 U.S. presidential election even though he was not eligible to do so. The green card allows him to live and work in the country permanently, but does not in itself grant the right to vote in federal elections.

The Possible Penalty

If convicted, Paar faces up to one year in prison and a fine. The amount of the possible fine was not specified in the source. It was also not reported whether the defendant pleaded guilty or when the trial will take place.

Additional Defendants

Paar is one of nine foreign nationals charged with voting illegally in elections in 2022 and 2024. The other defendants include citizens of Russia, Poland, Cuba, Kenya, Greece, and the Netherlands.

What this means for you

U.S. permanent resident status and possession of a green card are not equivalent to U.S. citizenship and do not confer the right to participate in federal elections. For Israelis living permanently in the U.S., this case illustrates that violating voter eligibility rules may lead to criminal charges, imprisonment, and a fine.

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Case analysis based on court rulings