Korean green card holders report unwanted election mail amid prosecutions

Some Korean green card holders say they have received unsolicited ballots and voter-registration materials ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, raising concerns about their immigration status, according to The Korea Times. The reports come as federal prosecutors pursue cases against permanent residents accused of unlawful voting and related offenses.

Receiving election mail does not by itself establish that someone is registered, and receiving a ballot is not a voting offense, the report said. Knowingly claiming U.S. citizenship falsely or voting illegally, however, can carry serious immigration consequences depending on the circumstances.

The Justice Department announced charges Oct. 19 against 28 permanent residents in California, according to The Korea Times. The alleged offenses included fraudulent voter registration, unlawful voting and false statements in naturalization proceedings.

Citing Radio Korea, the newspaper identified Jennifer Jung, 31, as among those charged. Jung is a Korean woman with Canadian citizenship who lives in San Diego. Prosecutors allege she falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to register, cast a ballot in the November 2024 election and subsequently misrepresented her voting history during a naturalization interview.

The unsolicited-mail accounts are a separate issue from those allegations. The Korea Times described online posts about ballots, registration materials and other election mail, but the article did not establish how those materials reached the recipients.

California’s automatic registration system covers eligible applicants conducting Department of Motor Vehicles transactions unless they opt out, the report said. State officials say applicants who identify themselves as ineligible are not registered, although the state has acknowledged erroneous registrations.

California residents registered in error can ask their county elections office to cancel their registration, according to The Korea Times. Cancellation, however, does not necessarily remove immigration consequences arising from any past violations.