At least 11 Canadians have been arrested as part of the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on alleged non-citizen voting ahead of the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, amid growing diplomatic tensions between Washington and Ottawa over accusations of Canadian interference in American politics.
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa issued a statement Wednesday accusing Canadian politicians of attempting to influence the upcoming elections through trade policies, political activities and public comments. The embassy also claimed that Canada ranks second among countries whose citizens face charges related to illegal or fraudulent voting in the United States. It urged Canadians to refrain from participating in or attempting to influence American elections.
Among those charged is Robert Harold Corbett, a Canadian-born man raised in the United States who believed he held American citizenship. Corbett, who said he only discovered he had been adopted at age 51, faces charges of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally voting. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, he participated in six elections dating back to 1998.
Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of non-citizens with voting-related offences since late last year, including several longtime permanent residents who maintain they were unaware of their ineligibility or had been mistakenly registered. A recent Justice Department operation in California resulted in 28 arrests, including two Canadians.
Another case involves Paige Adamson, a Canadian permanent resident who has lived in Washington state for 14 years. She was detained and questioned for several hours at the U.S. border in September after authorities alleged she had falsely claimed American citizenship and voted in the state’s 2018 election. Adamson denied recalling any participation in a U.S. election.
Election experts have questioned the timing and justification of the enforcement campaign. David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research, said investigations have repeatedly demonstrated that illegal voting by non-citizens is extremely rare. He suggested the arrests could undermine public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the midterms.
A Reuters investigation published in September also identified software problems and administrative errors across 12 states that may have resulted in more than 30,000 self-declared non-citizens being added to voter registration lists since 2000.
Florida defence lawyer Aaron Cohen, who represents several individuals facing voting-related charges, said inadequate eligibility checks during voter registration may have contributed to confusion among non-citizens. He also questioned whether the administration’s aggressive prosecution strategy was being driven by broader political objectives.
Canadian officials have rejected the allegations of election interference. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly previously stated that Canada does not interfere in American elections and would not tolerate similar interference in its own democratic processes.
The controversy comes as Canada-U.S. relations remain strained by ongoing trade disputes and tariffs, adding another point of friction between the neighbouring countries ahead of the American midterm elections.
