Article Summary –
The Republican party is escalating discussion around the issue of illegal immigrants voting in the U.S., calling for legislation to protect voting integrity amidst what they describe as “unprecedented levels of illegal immigration”. Republicans have proposed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, with legislatures in at least six states placing noncitizen voting measures on their ballots. However, despite the issue being pushed to the forefront, evidence suggests instances of noncitizens voting are minor, with audits in states like Ohio, Georgia, and North Carolina revealing few cases.
U.S. Election Focused on Immigrant Voting and Implications for Democracy
The issue of illegal immigrants voting in U.S. elections has sparked political debate, with Republicans arguing that legislative measures are needed to protect the vote against increasing illegal immigration, particularly at the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats, however, see it as a deception intended to stir uncertainty ahead of the presidential election.
Republicans are pushing a bill – the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act – that would necessitate proof of citizenship for voter registration. This follows the introduction of noncitizen voting measures on the ballot by Republican legislatures in at least six states. House Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin insists, “American elections are for American citizens, and we intend to keep it that way.”
Democrats counter that such concerns are unnecessary, as current law already prohibits non-U.S. citizens from voting in federal elections. They argue that the Republican emphasis on the issue is part of an early strategy to lay the groundwork for election challenges.
The fear that non-eligible immigrants are voting illegally has been a longstanding concern for the right wing, but gained renewed attention when former President Donald Trump alleged, without evidence, that Democrats were promoting illegal immigration for voter registration purposes.
However, election administration experts contend that the actual number of non-citizens voting in federal elections is negligible. While there have been cases over the years of non-citizens illegally registering and casting ballots, states have systems in place to catch such illegalities.
Despite this, there is worry that adding more ID requirements could disenfranchise eligible voters who don’t have immediate access to their birth certificates or Social Security cards. Some Republicans argue that an additional step could further secure the system and increase voter confidence.
The debate on noncitizen voting has also drawn attention to locales like San Francisco and the District of Columbia, where noncitizen immigrants are permitted to vote in certain local elections. A small number of noncitizen voters have cast ballots in such instances, but their impact has been minimal.
Consequently, South Carolina voters will decide on a constitutional amendment in November that would restrict voting rights to citizens only. Supporters view this as a preventive measure against potential problems in the future.
Despite the controversy, some lawmakers, like Democratic state Rep. Lee Snodgrass of Wisconsin, struggle to understand why a non-citizen would risk a felony and potential deportation to vote illegally.
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