Allegedly Voted In General Election Despite Being A Felon…
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton man is facing felony charges after state investigators say he illegally cast a ballot in the 2024 General Election while serving probation for a felony drug conviction. Jared J. Janacek, 33, was arrested following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Election Crimes Unit. According to court documents filed in Palm Beach County, Janacek allegedly submitted an online voter registration in October 2024, falsely affirming that his voting rights had been restored.
The investigation began after authorities discovered Janacek had been sentenced to 48 months of probation in December 2023 for felony possession of a controlled substance in Lee County. Under the Florida Constitution, individuals convicted of such felonies are not qualified to vote until their civil rights are formally restored. Records from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections confirm that Janacek not only registered but also voted in person at a local precinct on November 5, 2024.
During a voluntary interview with investigators in a Boca Raton parking lot last December, Janacek reportedly admitted to casting the vote. He told Inspector Antonio Mathews that he believed felons were allowed to vote based on news reports he had seen regarding changes to Florida law in 2018. However, investigators countered this claim by presenting Janacek with a document he signed in the presence of his probation officer in late 2023, which explicitly stated that he was not permitted to vote while on felony probation.
Janacek now faces two third-degree felony counts: making a false affirmation in connection with an election and voting as an unqualified elector. The case is being handled by the Florida Office of the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. Court records show the arrest warrant was formally supported by the FDLE on January 6, 2026, as the state continues its crackdown on election-related violations.
