DES MOINES, Iowa — In a significant development just weeks ahead of the 2024 elections, Iowa’s top election official revealed that several dozen individuals who identified as noncitizens participated in past elections, either by voting or registering to vote, despite being ineligible.
Elections officials matched the state’s 2.3 million registered voters with individuals who self-reported as noncitizens to the Iowa Department of Transportation. According to a spokesperson, 87 individuals were found to have previously voted while identifying themselves to the DOT as noncitizens, and another 67 reported being noncitizens while having registered to vote.
The election official emphasized the seriousness of this issue, pointing out that voting as a noncitizen constitutes a Class D felony. Moreover, 2,022 individuals disclosed their noncitizen status but went on to register or vote. It remains unclear whether some of these individuals attained naturalized citizenship during this period, creating a need for clarification on their status when they participated in elections.
The official highlighted that maintaining election integrity is paramount as the state approaches Election Day. While noncitizen voting is illegal in federal elections, and significant occurrences are not well-documented, Iowa has identified several cases warranting attention.
The matter of noncitizens voting has become central to political discourse, particularly among Republican candidates and lawmakers ahead of the 2024 election, with some rhetoric suggesting that illegal migration is being leveraged to expand voter registration among newcomers.
Community leaders have voiced concerns regarding the implications of this announcement, especially the risk of disenfranchising naturalized citizens. In response, election officials have proactively alerted relevant precincts to the identified individuals, guiding poll workers to challenge those ballots and instruct voters to cast provisional ballots.
Under state law, voters deemed ineligible have a short window to rectify their status by providing evidence of citizenship to ensure their votes are counted. The emphasis remains on protecting election integrity, with officials reiterating that even a single instance of illegal voting is unacceptable.
The names of those flagged have been forwarded to the state Attorney General and the Department of Public Safety for further inquiry. The state’s civil liberties organization has affirmed its commitment to monitoring voter disenfranchisement, ensuring that all eligible voters’ rights are upheld in Iowa.
