Two Canadian citizens residing in New York have been charged with voter fraud for allegedly participating in United States federal elections despite not holding U.S. citizenship, according to court documents and statements from U.S. authorities.
Paula Stitt, 57, a lawful permanent resident of Albany, New York, has lived in the U.S. for more than three decades but never became a citizen, according to a criminal complaint filed in late September. Stitt is accused of casting ballots in at least two federal elections in 2024: the June primary for U.S. Senate and House seats, as well as the November general election that resulted in the re-election of former President Donald Trump.
A special agent with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations stated in the complaint that election records cross-referenced with immigration data revealed Stitt’s participation in federal elections even though she has never naturalized as a U.S. citizen. According to the agent, Stitt was stopped at the Peace Bridge border crossing between Fort Erie, Ontario, and Buffalo, New York, in August when returning from a family visit in Canada. She was questioned about her voting history during the encounter.
Court filings indicate Stitt admitted to registering to vote and produced a voter registration card. She reportedly told investigators that she had consulted an unnamed immigration official about her voting eligibility and was told she could vote only after becoming a permanent resident. Stitt said she had voted in local and state elections, as well as every presidential election for the past 30 years, including the 2024 contest. She faces two counts of illegal voting by a noncitizen.
Jacques Patry, 64, who has lived in Tupper Lake, New York, for approximately five years, is charged with one count of voting by an alien. According to a separate complaint, Patry participated in the 2022 midterm federal elections, which selected members of Congress. Records show he never obtained U.S. citizenship. During an interview on October 1, Patry reportedly told agents he had registered to vote while still in high school.
The charges against Stitt and Patry were filed along with similar counts against two British citizens and a permanent resident from Bosnia and Herzegovina. All the cases were initially sealed but were made public when a judge unsealed the documents last Wednesday during court proceedings.
Stitt has sought the assignment of a public defender, citing financial inability to retain private counsel, while Patry is represented by an attorney. Both have been released with certain conditions. Requests for comment from their legal representatives were not returned by the time of publication.