© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ohio has indicted a man for voting illegally. He died in 2022

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Ramesh Patel was charged this week with illegal voting in several previous elections in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. But it will be difficult to bring him to trial. Mr. Patel died December 2022. Ramesh Patel was one of six legal noncitizens whose indictments were presented to the Ohio attorney general. But county prosecutor Michael O'Malley told the USA Today Network Ohio Bureau, the practice of indicting the deceased is draconian. This is not how we would have handled this case in my office.

The indictment of someone who is deceased does pose some practical questions. How do you put someone on trial when they're no longer around? How do you put together a jury of peers to hear Mr. Patel's case when the defendant is departed? Wouldn't at least a few of the jurors have to be departed, too? And even if the late Ramesh Patel were to be convicted, what kind of penalty is there for someone who is already deceased?

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.