Former Kansas Mayor Reaches Plea Deal in Illegal Voting Case

Jose “Joe” Ceballos, the former mayor of Coldwater, has entered a guilty plea to reduced charges following an investigation into illegal voting by a non-citizen. The resolution marks the end of a legal saga that began shortly after his re-election in late 2025.

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The Background

Ceballos was originally hit with six felony counts by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s office, including:

• Voting without being qualified
• Election perjury

The state alleged that Ceballos cast ballots in multiple elections between 2022 and 2024 despite being a legal permanent resident (green card holder) rather than a U.S. citizen. While legal residents can live and work in the U.S., federal and state laws strictly reserve the right to vote in most elections for citizens.

Timeline of Events

• November 2025: Charges were filed just 24 hours after Ceballos won his second term as mayor.
• December 2025: Facing mounting legal pressure and public scrutiny, Ceballos officially resigned his post.
• April 2026: A plea agreement was finalized, allowing Ceballos to plead to lesser charges to avoid the maximum penalties associated with the original felony counts.

Future Implications

While the plea deal potentially reduces his jail time, the legal consequences may extend beyond the courtroom. Under federal law, non-citizens convicted of election-related crimes can face deportation or the denial of future citizenship applications.

Ceballos, who reportedly applied for naturalization in early 2025, now faces an uncertain future regarding his status in the country he served as a local official.