DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – A Jacksonville man is facing two felony charges after state investigators say he voted in the 2024 General Election despite not being a U.S. citizen.
Antonio Padrigan, 51, was arrested Oct. 6 by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on an active warrant. He faces charges of unqualified non-citizen elector willfully voting and false affirmation of oath, both third-degree felonies under Florida law.
FDLE investigation
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement launched its investigation after receiving a complaint July 30 from the Florida Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security. The complaint alleged that Padrigan, a lawful permanent resident originally from Mexico, had registered to vote and cast a ballot in Duval County while being ineligible due to his non-citizen status.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Padrigan completed a Florida Voter Registration Application on Nov. 5, 2024 — the same day as the General Election. On the form, he indicated he was a U.S. citizen. That same day, at approximately 2:20 p.m., Padrigan cast a ballot at Duval County Precinct 410, located at St. Barnabas Anglican Church on St. Johns Bluff.
Non-citizen status confirmed, according to report
According to court documents, after an audit of elector eligibility, Padrigan’s non-citizen status was discovered. The Duval County Supervisor of Elections contacted Padrigan by certified mail on Jan. 30, informing him he had been identified as a non-U.S. citizen and could be removed from the voter registration rolls. Padrigan did not respond.
On April 17, a second certified letter was sent notifying Padrigan that his name would be removed from the Florida voter registration rolls due to his lack of response.
On Aug. 28, FDLE received a “Certificate of Nonexistence of Record” from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirming that no record exists showing Padrigan had obtained U.S. citizenship. The certification also listed an alien file number and identified Mexico as Padrigan’s country of birth — details that matched records in the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles database.
Admission to investigators
On Aug. 31, 2026, FDLE attempted an in-person interview at Padrigan’s residence. Padrigan later contacted an FDLE special agent supervisor by phone, where investigators say he confirmed he was not a U.S. citizen but a lawful permanent resident. He said he entered the United States when he was four or five years old from Mexico.
During the phone interview, Padrigan admitted to voting in the 2024 General Election and acknowledged he should not have done so. He also admitted he had previously been offered the opportunity to apply for U.S. citizenship but declined.
Arrest, bond
An arrest warrant was issued Sept. 23, by a circuit court judge in Duval County. A JSO officer served the warrant at Padrigan’s home on Oct. 6 and transported him to jail.
Bond was set at $5,003 on the false affirmation charge and $10,003 on the illegal voting charge. As conditions of his bond, Padrigan was required to surrender his passport and any travel documents.
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