What the sheriff publicly reported
In a September 2025 press event, a San Joaquin County sheriff’s captain said election records show people outside the United States were on California voter rolls. He noted names connected to Pakistan and questioned how those registrations passed the system’s checks. The captain described the state online system as an honor code where someone can click a box and get a confirmation that they are registered.
The Lodi council case at the center
The claim is not just theory. The investigation followed the 2020 Lodi City Council race where Shakir Khan won by 282 votes. Prosecutors later charged him with dozens of crimes tied to fraudulent registrations and ballots. Khan pleaded no contest to many counts in early 2024 and resigned his seat. Officials say the probe turned up mail ballots, unusual clusters of registrations, and links to people who said they never voted.
How the online system appears to work
Online voter registration asks for basic information and a checkbox attesting to eligibility. If you click and submit, you get an email or a mail confirmation. Once on the rolls, a ballot will be mailed at election time. That is convenient for busy voters. It also creates an opening if bad actors submit false entries or use another person’s details without challenge.
What investigators say they found
The Lodi probe reported 41 sealed mail ballots recovered from a private home and roughly 70 registrations tied to one address, phone, or email. Investigators allege some registrations involved people who lived abroad or who were unaware their names were used. The sheriff’s office tied at least some of those registrations to a network assisting one candidate, according to court filings and statements from law enforcement.
Why this matters beyond one town
The case raises questions about controls on voter rolls and mail ballots. States want high turnout and easy access. That goal can clash with the need for verification. If a registration system relies mainly on attestation and mail delivery, it can be exploited. Voters have a right to confidence in the process. Officials now face the practical task of fixing gaps without making voting harder for legitimate citizens.
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