A Chinese national with a green card faces felony charges and a bench warrant after fraudulently voting in Michigan’s 2024 election, then vanishing before his court hearing.
Key Takeaways
- Haoxiang Gao, a 20-year-old Chinese national with a green card, is charged with perjury and unauthorized voting after falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to vote in Michigan.
- Gao failed to appear at his scheduled court hearing, resulting in a bench warrant for his arrest, with his current whereabouts unknown.
- The illegal vote was cast at an early voting site at the University of Michigan using his student ID and cannot be retrieved.
- The Michigan Secretary of State identified Gao as one of 16 noncitizens believed to have voted in the state, sparking calls for election reform requiring proof of citizenship.
- If convicted, Gao could face up to 19 years in prison for the felony charges.
Fraudulent Voting and Subsequent Confession
Haoxiang Gao, a 20-year-old Chinese national studying at the University of Michigan, is facing serious legal consequences after illegally voting in the 2024 election. Despite holding only a green card and not U.S. citizenship, Gao registered to vote using his university ID to establish residency. He then proceeded to cast a ballot at an early voting site on campus, explicitly lying on official forms by falsely attesting to being an American citizen, a requirement for voting in U.S. elections.
“This young man’s case is what showed our entire nation the giant loophole in Michigan’s election laws that allow non-citizens to vote,” said State Rep. Bryan Posthumus.
The investigation began when Gao himself approached the Ann Arbor clerk’s office after voting to inquire whether green card holders were eligible to vote in U.S. elections. During this conversation, he admitted to having falsely claimed citizenship on his registration forms. Ann Arbor clerk Jacqueline Beaudry confirmed that Gao “lied on the forms and attested to being a U.S. citizen,” triggering an immediate referral to law enforcement authorities for investigation.
Legal Consequences and Missing Defendant
Following his confession, Michigan authorities charged Gao with two felonies: perjury and being an unauthorized elector attempting to vote. These serious charges carry potential penalties of up to 19 years in prison. The case has taken a concerning turn as Gao failed to appear for his scheduled court hearing, prompting a judge to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. His current whereabouts remain unknown, raising questions about whether he may have fled the jurisdiction.
“We’re grateful for the swift action of the clerk in this case, who took the appropriate steps and referred the case to law enforcement,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit.
Authorities have emphasized the severity of voting fraud, particularly when committed by non-citizens. Benson and Savit issued a stark warning to others who might consider similar actions: “Anyone who attempts to vote illegally faces significant consequences, including but not limited to arrest and prosecution.” They further stressed that “voting records are public – any noncitizen who attempts to vote fraudulently in Michigan will be exposing themselves to great risk and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Debates Over Election Integrity and Reform
Gao’s case has intensified ongoing debates about election integrity in Michigan and nationwide. According to a state audit, Gao is one of 16 non-citizens believed to have voted in Michigan’s recent elections. While Secretary of State Benson has attempted to downplay these incidents by claiming they “represent 0.00028% of the more than 5.7 million votes cast by Michiganders in the presidential election,” critics argue that every illegal vote undermines election integrity and could potentially impact close races.
The case has prompted State Representative Bryan Posthumus to advocate for a constitutional amendment requiring proof of citizenship to vote in Michigan. He points to Gao’s case as clear evidence of significant vulnerabilities in the state’s election system that need immediate attention. The incident raises important questions about verification procedures in voter registration and the effectiveness of current safeguards against non-citizen voting, particularly as Michigan allows same-day voter registration with minimal documentation requirements.
While law enforcement continues to search for the missing defendant, the illegal ballot cast by Gao cannot be retrieved or removed from the election results. This permanent impact on the vote tally, however small, exemplifies why many conservative voters remain concerned about election integrity issues, particularly regarding adequate verification of citizenship status for all registered voters.
