Philippine Native Charged With Illegal Voting in Oklahoma

Maria Elenor Lopez Rios, a lawful permanent resident, faces federal charges for allegedly voting as a noncitizen in a federal election.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections

Philippine Native Charged With Illegal Voting in Oklahoma

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Maria Elenor Lopez Rios, 45, was charged by criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma with unlawfully voting in a federal election as a noncitizen. She was also charged with falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and submitting a fraudulent voter registration.

Why it matters

The charges center on allegations that a noncitizen registered and voted in Tulsa County, raising questions about how voter eligibility is verified. The case was initiated after the Tulsa County Election Board flagged non-citizens removed from jury duty lists.

Rios was arrested on the day of the announcement and charged by criminal complaint in the Northern District of Oklahoma. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and the allegations remain unproven.

The players

Homeland Security Investigations Tulsa

The federal investigative unit that reviewed the Tulsa County Election Board referrals and determined Rios had registered and voted.

Tulsa County Election Board

The county body that referred non-citizens removed from jury duty lists, prompting the investigation.

The details

Homeland Security Investigations Tulsa reviewed referrals from the Tulsa County Election Board and determined Rios had registered and voted. Records show she allegedly registered in March 2022 and voted in the November 2022 federal midterm election in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

2017: Rios entered the United States, according to Department of Homeland Security records.
March 2022: Rios allegedly registered to vote in Tulsa County.
November 2022: Rios allegedly voted in the federal midterm election in Broken Arrow.
March 2026: Rios allegedly made false claims on her naturalization paperwork.
November 2, 2026: Rios was arrested and charged by criminal complaint.

Legal Context

Federal law makes it a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections and for false citizenship claims on voter registration forms. This case applies those existing prohibitions to allegations arising from jury duty list cross-checks in Tulsa County.

Voter eligibility rules apply to all registrants, and false citizenship claims on registration forms can carry federal criminal penalties. Residents who register to vote must confirm their eligibility before submitting forms.

The takeaway

Election officials often cross-check records such as jury duty lists to verify voter eligibility. Voters should confirm citizenship status before registering.