Article Summary –
Republicans are advocating for legislation to prevent noncitizens from voting, despite this already being illegal in federal elections and instances of it occurring being extremely rare. One such piece of legislation will challenge a law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections in Washington D.C., while another will mandate states to require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Critics argue these measures are attempts to reinforce unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, particularly from former President Donald Trump, and allege it is part of a broader effort to limit voting accessibility.
Legislation Aimed at Noncitizen Voting advanced by Republicans
Republicans are pursuing legislation to prevent noncitizen voting, an infrequent occurrence already prohibited in federal elections. This legislative push echoes former President Donald Trump’s strategy to question the legitimacy of the 2024 election results if he is defeated.
House Republicans’ Plan to Reinforce Voting Rules
House Republicans intend to vote on a bill to overturn a District of Columbia law that permits noncitizens to take part in local elections. The Republicans argue this step is necessary to deter Democrats from extending the practice elsewhere. The party is also promoting a measure demanding proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, for voter registration.
Trump’s Claims of Election Fraud Amplified by Republicans
The proposed legislation has little chance of becoming law, but it emphasizes Trump’s repeated assertions of election fraud. The Republicans are echoing a baseless narrative that Democrats are intentionally enabling illegal migration to boost their electoral success.
Unproven Claims of Illegal Voting by Migrants
Speaker Mike Johnson recently pledged to tackle illegal migration at a gathering with Trump, suggesting without evidence that unchecked migration is part of a plan to vote for President Biden.
Concerns over Noncitizens Voting in Elections
Fears of noncitizens participating in American elections have escalated during the Trump administration. Trump asserted, without proof, that illegal immigrants’ votes for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cost him the popular vote in 2017.
Republicans Challenge Current Voting Practices
Despite the lack of evidence of noncitizen voting in the 2020 election, Republicans argue the risk has increased due to high illegal immigration. The bill sponsored by Republican August Pfluger would repeal a 2022 D.C. law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections.
Republicans Push for Stricter Voter Eligibility
Republicans are also advancing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, led by Representative Chip Roy. The act would require states to verify citizenship when registering someone to vote and mandate the removal of noncitizens from voter rolls.
Criticism of the Proposed Voter Eligibility Act
Democrats argue that the act would make it harder for citizens to vote. Almost 40 percent of the adult voting population did not vote in the last presidential election, making additional obstacles potentially problematic.
Claims of Voter Suppression
Representative Morelle characterized the legislation as another method to prevent voting, accusing Republicans of suppressing voter turnout.
Noncitizen Voting in Federal Elections Rare, Researchers Say
David Becker, Director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, stated that noncitizen voting in federal elections is extremely rare and suggested Republicans may have hidden agendas. He noted that prevention policies against noncitizen voting are already in place at the federal and state level.
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