Two Ukrainian women have been charged with illegal voting in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election in Palm Beach, Florida. Svitlana Demydenko, 53, and her daughter, Yelyzaveta Demydenko, 22, appeared in federal court in West Palm Beach following their arrest.
The criminal complaint alleges that Svitlana and Yelyzaveta entered the U.S. in April 2021 on nonimmigrant visas. In August 2024, they registered to vote in federal elections in Florida by certifying U.S. citizenship, which they did not possess.
On October 31, 2024, both women voted unlawfully from Palm Beach in the election that included selecting the U.S. President.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa from Homeland Security Investigations in Miami, and Commissioner Mark Glass from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the HSI Miami Field Division, the FDLE Office of Executive Investigations, and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. Assistance was also provided by the Florida Department of State and the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney John McMillan.
The charges remain allegations, with Svitlana and Yelyzaveta presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Further information and updates on the case can be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of Florida. Related court documents are available on the Southern District of Florida’s District Court website under case number 25-mj-8216.