I Voted Sticker Helps Convict Noncitizen in 2024 Illegally Cast Ballot Case [WATCH]

Federal prosecutors say an “I Voted” sticker played a key role in securing the conviction of a noncitizen who illegally cast a ballot in the 2024 presidential election, a case now being highlighted amid renewed national debate over election security, voter identification, and citizenship verification, as reported by Fox News.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, a Colombian national living in Massachusetts, was convicted on multiple federal charges, including identity theft, passport fraud, and illegal voting in the 2024 election.

According to federal officials, Orovio-Hernandez was captured on surveillance video on Election Day displaying an “I Voted” sticker after casting a ballot she was not legally eligible to submit.

Meet Colombian national Lina Maria Orovio-Hernandez, who’s living in the US illegally under a stolen identity. She voted in the 2024 elections and received $400k in taxpayer funded benefits.

She was charged with false representation of a Social Security number, making a false… pic.twitter.com/2cydJK7k0v

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 23, 2025

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Prosecutors described the case as a rare, documented example of noncitizen voting that resulted in prosecution at the federal level. Officials said the evidence demonstrated a sustained pattern of fraudulent conduct rather than an isolated incident.

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“Her actions were not a one-time mistake or accident,” said Shawn Rice, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in a statement addressing the conviction.

Federal authorities emphasized that the case involved coordinated efforts across multiple agencies, pointing to it as an example of interagency enforcement as concerns over election integrity intensify ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The verdict “sends a clear message: identity theft and fraud against federal benefit programs will not go undetected or unpunished,” said Amy Connelly, special agent in charge of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General in Boston.

Officials said Orovio-Hernandez used stolen or fraudulent identification documents to obtain benefits and ultimately to register and vote in a federal election.

Surveillance footage showing her wearing the “I Voted” sticker was cited as visual confirmation of the illegal ballot, which prosecutors said reinforced the seriousness of the offense.

The case has drawn attention from election security advocates, particularly as the Trump administration has pointed to the conviction as an illustration of what it argues are weaknesses in voter identification standards and citizenship vetting procedures in some states.

Supporters of tighter election laws have cited the case while calling for stronger safeguards to prevent unlawful voting and restore public confidence in election outcomes.

Several states have already moved to tighten their voter verification rules, reviewing identification requirements, citizenship checks, and procedures governing mail-in and provisional ballots.

Officials in those states have said the goal is to reduce vulnerabilities while ensuring eligible voters can still participate.

The conviction comes as election administration is again under scrutiny nationwide.

Federal authorities recently conducted an FBI raid at an election hub in Fulton County, Georgia, authorizing the seizure of election records, voting rolls, and related data tied to the 2020 election, according to a copy of the warrant.

Some Senate Democrats raised concerns after reports that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present during the raid.

Gabbard responded in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, stating that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s Office of General Counsel “has found my actions to be consistent and well within my statutory authority as the Director of National Intelligence.”

Republican Party officials have continued to emphasize election integrity as a central issue.

In the months ahead of the 2024 general election, the party pursued a litigation-focused strategy that included dozens of lawsuits seeking to strengthen voter identification laws, tighten citizenship verification standards, and impose additional requirements on mail-in and provisional ballots in certain states.

It remains unclear to what extent Republicans will pursue a similar legal strategy heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

However, federal officials say cases like Orovio-Hernandez’s conviction are likely to remain part of the broader debate as lawmakers and election administrators weigh future reforms.

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