Denise Nataly Migliore, 51, a Sydney woman residing in Franklinton, northern Louisiana, has been charged with two counts of making a false statement and two counts of fraudulent voting. She was arrested in New Orleans earlier this month and is set to face a jury trial in Louisiana in September.
According to a federal indictment, prosecutors allege that Ms Migliore knowingly claimed to be a US citizen in October 2022 and October 2024 to cast fraudulent votes in the last two presidential elections. At the time, the US Attorney's Office stated that she was a legal permanent resident.
The indictment further alleges that she "knowingly and wilfully" defrauded Louisiana residents of "a fair and impartially conducted election process" by casting ballots she allegedly knew were "materially false and fraudulent."
Ms Migliore told Louisiana news outlet NOLA that she has lived in the US for almost three decades, had a pending citizenship application, and considered herself a citizen. She said she was encouraged by the state to register to vote and that no one stopped her during registration or when she cast her ballot. She described the 2024 election workers as "very polite" who scanned her ID but did not ask about her citizenship status.
In a statement to ABC, Ms Migliore expressed that she was "just devastated that this is happening to an Australian."
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
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