MIAMI — A 23-year-old Haitian woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally voting in the 2024 general election in Miami-Dade County.
Valery Zidor, a Haitian national who is not a U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty to two counts of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote and one count of voting as a noncitizen, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Federal prosecutors said Zidor falsely stated that she was a U.S. citizen on two voter registration applications submitted to the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections.
She later cast a ballot in the November 2024 general election despite not being a U.S. citizen.
Zidor now faces up to five years in federal prison. Her sentence will be determined by a federal judge.
The case also serves as an important reminder for members of the Haitian immigrant community. Under federal law, non-U.S. citizens are prohibited from voting in federal elections, and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship can result in serious criminal and immigration consequences.
The warning is particularly important under President Donald Trump’s current administration, which has made immigration enforcement a major priority.
Immigrants who are uncertain about their eligibility to register or vote should verify their status before completing a voter registration application or casting a ballot.
One individual case should not be viewed as representative of the Haitian immigrant community. However, it provides an opportunity to remind immigrants about the importance of understanding election and immigration laws before taking actions that could have serious consequences.
Le Floridien Staff
