Three noncitizens in Georgia face charges for allegedly voting in federal elections, including one defendant accused of casting nine ballots between 2008 and 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced charges Sept. 18. Prosecutors said Pauline Lewis, 65, of Dawsonville allegedly voted by absentee ballot in the Nov. 3, 2020, Jan. 5, 2021, and Nov. 5, 2024, federal elections. Lewis is described as a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda who entered the United States on a student visa in 1979 but never became a citizen.
Gabriel Covarrubias, 44, of Lawrenceville allegedly voted under a false name in November 2024. Authorities accuse the Mexican citizen of claiming another name and a Puerto Rico birthplace on a 2023 passport application. He was charged with making a false statement and voting as a noncitizen.
Analiea Milliscent Eccles of Morrow allegedly voted nine times. Prosecutors said the Venezuelan citizen entered on a visitor visa in 1991, later received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status and never applied for U.S. citizenship. She faces charges of noncitizen voting and falsely claiming citizenship.
The Georgia cases were part of a Justice Department announcement covering 16 defendants in seven states. Alleged offenses include unlawful voting, false citizenship claims and passport, naturalization, identification and firearms crimes.
Federal law generally bars noncitizens from voting in elections involving federal candidates; the voting offense carries up to one year in prison. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office assisted the investigations.
A 2024 Georgia audit identified 20 noncitizens among 8.2 million registered voters; nine had voting histories.
Lewis and Eccles were charged by criminal complaints, while Covarrubias was charged by information. The charges do not establish guilt, and prosecutors must prove them beyond a reasonable doubt.
