Ukrainian Citizens Charged in South Florida with Illegally Voting in 2024 United States Presidential Election

MIAMI – Two Ukrainian women with no United States citizenship have been charged with unlawfully voting in the General Election for United States President during early voting in Palm Beach, Fla., on Oct. 31, 2024.

Svitlana Demydenko (Svitlana), 53, and her daughter, Yelyzaveta Demydenko (Yelyzaveta), 22, made their initial appearances in West Palm Beach federal court today.

According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Svitlana and Yelyzaveta entered the United States in April 2021 on nonimmigrant visas. In August 2024, while living in Florida, Svitlana and Yelyzaveta registered to vote in federal elections using a system that requires certification of United States citizenship, which neither of them had.

On Oct. 31, 2024, and still without United States citizenship, Svitlana and Yelyzaveta voted from Palm Beach in the federal 2024 General Election, which included election of a United States President.

U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Division; and Commissioner Mark Glass of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) made the announcement.

HSI Miami Field Division and FDLE Office of Executive Investigations, Election Crime Unit investigated this case, with assistance from the Florida Department of State, Office of Election Crimes and Security; the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections; the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service; and the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Assistant U.S. Attorney John McMillan is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-mj-8216.

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