Remedios Alasaas, 66, of Kahului, Maui, was charged on June 1 with unlawfully voting as an alien, according to United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. Alasaas is accused of registering to vote shortly after arriving in the United States on an immigrant visa around 2014 and casting ballots in two federal elections while being a non-citizen.
Court records state that Alasaas voted in a general election on or about November 8, 2022, and again in a primary election on or about August 10, 2024. On both occasions, she understood that she was not a citizen at the time of voting.
If convicted, Alasaas faces up to one year in prison for each charge and could also receive supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. “The right of the people to vote in Federal elections belongs solely to American citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “When non-citizens defraud the democratic process by voting, they undermine the integrity and credibility of our elections. This Office will vigorously investigate and prosecute all instances of voter fraud.”
FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter said, “The right to vote in Federal elections is a cornerstone of our democracy, and secured for U.S. citizens. The FBI will continue its work to ensure the integrity of our elections and hold accountable anyone who undermines the fairness of our democracy by engaging in voter fraud.” The FBI is investigating this case.
The charges are accusations only; Alasaas is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. Any sentence would be determined by statutory factors and sentencing guidelines if there is a conviction.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii conducts federal criminal investigations and prosecutions while representing the United States in civil matters through its main office located in Honolulu with a team comprising 23 lawyers and 40 staff members serving approximately 1.5 million residents across the Hawaiian Islands, according to the official website.