In a recent interview, Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) asserted that Democrats are promoting non-citizen voting as a strategy to bolster their voter base. This claim comes amidst a heightened focus on election integrity and immigration issues as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
Rep. Tenney's remarks reflect a broader Republican concern that Democrats are leveraging illegal immigration to influence electoral outcomes. The GOP has introduced the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act, which mandates proof of citizenship for voter registration. Proponents argue that this legislation is crucial to ensure that only eligible American citizens participate in elections. House Administration Committee Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) emphasized, "American elections are for American citizens, and we intend to keep it that way".
The only thing standing in between a non citizen voting in our federal elections is a box checking exercise
The SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship and cleans voter rolls pic.twitter.com/C2qB2Mt2fL
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) July 8, 2024
However, Democrats have criticized these efforts as a political maneuver designed to cast doubt on the integrity of upcoming elections. They argue that the Republican focus on non-citizen voting is an exaggerated issue meant to distract from more pressing concerns. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), the top Democrat on the committee, accused Republicans of laying the groundwork for election challenges similar to those seen in 2020 .
The debate over non-citizen voting has intensified as former President Donald Trump continues to suggest, without evidence, that Democrats are encouraging illegal immigration to manipulate voter rolls. Despite these claims, multiple studies and audits have shown that instances of non-citizens voting are extremely rare. For instance, an audit by Georgia's Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger found 1,634 attempts by non-citizens to register over 25 years, all of which were detected and prevented by election officials.
NEW 2024: House Administration Hearing On NON CITIZENS VOTING
“This is a disaster what happened in pennsylvania that has not gotten enough attention”
“Pennsylvania has been registering non-citizens to vote for 20 years, and they admit it. This is not subject to debate”
“The… pic.twitter.com/IZOc0y6hDv
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) June 2, 2024
Additionally, in Ohio, Secretary of State Frank LaRose identified 137 suspected non-citizens on the voter rolls out of approximately 8 million voters. These cases were promptly addressed, highlighting the existing safeguards that prevent illegal voting.
The Republican push for stricter voter ID laws has raised concerns among Democrats and election experts, who argue that additional ID requirements could disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly those lacking access to necessary documents like birth certificates or Social Security cards. David Becker, founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, questioned the necessity of additional proof when voters already provide substantial documentation to register.
While federal law prohibits non-citizens from voting in national elections, some local jurisdictions, such as San Francisco and Washington, D.C., have allowed non-citizens to vote in specific local elections. However, the impact of non-citizen voting in these cases has been minimal, with very few non-citizens participating in local ballots.
As the debate continues, the issue of non-citizen voting is likely to remain a significant point of contention in the lead-up to the 2024 election, reflecting deeper divisions over immigration policy and election integrity.
