Claims of Illegal Immigrant Voting Resurface in U.S. Elections
Amid the lead-up to the U.S. elections, Donald Trump and Republican allies are raising alarms about alleged efforts by Democrats to enable illegal immigrants to participate in the voting process. Trump voiced concerns during a presidential debate, asserting, “Our elections are bad, and a lot of these illegal immigrants coming in, they’re trying to get them to vote.”
Legal Framework Preventing Illegal Voting
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 explicitly prohibits non-citizens, including illegal immigrants, from voting in federal elections. Violations can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines. States are mandated to utilize a common registration form that requires individuals to affirm their citizenship, though it lacks a requirement for documentary proof. According to voting expert Jasleen Singh, this requirement acts as a significant deterrent for potential illegal voters due to the risks associated with falsifying such information.
Additionally, many states cross-reference voter registrations with various government records to ensure that non-citizens and others ineligible to vote are removed from the rolls.
Frequency of Illegal Immigrant Voting
Studies, including one conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice, indicate that instances of illegal immigrant voting are exceedingly rare. An analysis of 23.5 million votes from several states in the 2016 election revealed only about 30 suspected cases, equating to 0.0001% of all votes cast. Furthermore, research by the Heritage Foundation noted only 77 documented incidents of non-citizens voting from 1999 to 2023.
Republican Responses to Allegations of Voter Fraud
The Republican-led SAVE Act, which sought to enforce stricter verification of voters’ citizenship, has faced rejection in Congress. Despite this, Republican leaders cite audits in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania that purportedly reveal thousands of non-citizen registrations. In recent statements, House Republican Mike Johnson referenced election audits in tight-race states such as Pennsylvania and Georgia as proof of external interference in the electoral process.
In Pennsylvania, historical glitches allowed some non-citizen applicants to mistakenly register to vote, with previous estimates suggesting around 544 illegal votes cast in state elections from 2000 to 2017.
Political Ads Amplifying Concerns over Illegal Voting
In recent weeks, media analysis has shown a surge in Republican political advertising focusing on the potential for non-citizen voting. Since September 1, 118 paid ads have been disseminated, collectively viewed between 7.8 and 9 million times. Some ads pose provocative questions regarding illegal immigrants’ participation in elections, further igniting the debate over voter integrity as the election season progresses.
