Non-Citizen Student Casts Ballot in Michigan: A Closer Look at Voter Verification Issues

Ann Arbor Michigan— In a recent incident that raises questions about voter verification and non-citizen voting safeguards, a University of Michigan student from China, who is not a U.S. citizen, allegedly voted in Ann Arbor on Sunday. The student, now facing legal action, registered to vote using his University of Michigan student ID and other residency documentation, and reportedly signed a statement affirming he was a U.S. citizen.

The Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office disclosed these charges Wednesday, although they did not identify the student. According to the Secretary of State’s office, once the ballot was cast through a tabulator at an early voting site on campus, there was no way to reverse the vote. This lack of traceability means the ballot will be counted in the upcoming presidential election despite being illegally cast, highlighting a key security gap in Michigan’s voting process.

After voting, the student contacted the local clerk's office, asking if he could retract his ballot, further complicating the issue. Under Michigan law, ballots processed through tabulators are meant to remain anonymous to preserve privacy, a structure that prevents tracking ballots back to individual voters but also makes it impossible to retrieve ballots cast illegally.

While many political leaders argue that safeguards prevent non-citizen voting, this case shows that gaps in the system exist and can have real implications. Some argue for stronger verification processes, especially as political stakes rise ahead of the election. Others suggest the need to balance security measures with privacy protections for all voters.

If the student hadn’t come forward about his non-citizen status, his vote would have gone entirely unnoticed, raising questions about the scrutiny given to voter registration rolls. This case underscores the complexities election officials face in verifying citizenship and maintaining voting integrity—an issue likely to fuel ongoing debate as Election Day approaches.