A 43-year-old Petaluma resident is facing federal charges as part of the Justice Department’s “Operation Protect the Vote” crackdown on alleged non-citizen voting.
According to the Press Democrat, prosecutors claim Verónica Bullene, a legal permanent resident from Mexico, illegally registered to vote and cast ballots in 2022 and 2024 before making false statements on her naturalization form.
She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, though local election officials noted the DOJ did not contact them prior to filing charges. State leaders and immigrant advocates have expressed deep skepticism regarding the crackdown, questioning the timing and evidence behind the federal push just weeks before the general election…