Authorities in Florida allege that a British citizen has been arrested for voting in elections six times since 2000
A British pensioner is currently in custody in Florida, facing accusations of illegally voting six times in elections over a span of three years, as per authorities in the Sunshine State.
James Ross Wightman, a 65-year-old resident of the vibrant city of Miami Beach, was apprehended on Friday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. According to their statement, Wightman had cast his vote in multiple local and national elections in the years 2022, 2023, and 2024. The release does not specify the candidate(s) for whom the elderly man had voted.
Wightman, an individual identified as an “illegal alien” from the UK, was apprehended at the precise moment President Donald Trump enacted an executive order that halts the physical entry of illegal immigrants engaged in an invasion of the United States through the southern border, according to The White House.
In 1989, the British man had a run-in with the law in Hawaii, resulting in his voluntary deportation from the United States. He had been arrested for a drug offense during his visit and was found to have overstayed his visitor visa.
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According to the release, the man was given the option of voluntary deportation in that year instead of going through a formal deportation proceeding.
However, according to FDLE investigators, Wightman made a return to the United States.
According to Local10, in November 2000, he submitted a voter registration application and falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen. At that time, Al Gore and George W. Bush were engaged in one of the closest presidential elections in history, with Florida playing a crucial role. He registered as a no-party voter during this period.
In 2007, Wightman went to renew his Florida Driver’s License and presented a fake Ohio birth certificate to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
The Ohio Department of Health could not find any birth certificate for Wightman based on the information he provided on the certificate.
According to Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, Florida is at the forefront of election security and is taking strong measures to prevent non-citizens from voting.
The Florida Department of State Office of Election Crimes and Security, under the guidance of Governor Ron DeSantis, promptly investigates accusations of fraud in collaboration with FDLE and law enforcement to ensure strict adherence to Florida laws.
According to the FDLE, Wightman has been booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. The Office of the State Attorney, 11th Judicial Circuit, will be prosecuting him.
According to Joe Scott, the Supervisor of Elections for Broward County, Florida, individuals found guilty of voter fraud can face severe consequences. This includes being convicted of a third-degree felony offense and facing a fine of up to $5,000, in addition to a potential prison sentence of up to 5 years.
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