Key facts
- President Donald Trump and allies are amplifying claims of noncitizen voting ahead of the midterms.
- Trump advocates for mail ballots to be sent only to verified U.S. citizens.
- A Census Bureau report, cited by Trump, suggested 24,000 noncitizens voted illegally in 2020.
- The Department of Homeland Security alleges up to 250,000 noncitizens may be registered in four states.
- Election experts and state officials express skepticism about the data and methodology used in these claims.
- Voting by noncitizens is rare, a felony, and can lead to deportation.
President Donald Trump and his allies are intensifying their focus on claims of noncitizen voting as the November elections approach. Trump is advocating for the U.S. Postal Service to send mail ballots exclusively to voters verified as U.S. citizens. This push is supported by a Census Bureau report that, according to Trump, found 24,000 noncitizens voted illegally in 2020. Furthermore, Trump's Department of Homeland Security has asserted, without providing evidence, that approximately 250,000 noncitizens may be registered to vote in just four states.
In Maine, a Republican candidate for governor indicated plans to request U.S. marshals and ICE agents at polling places to ensure only legal voters cast ballots. White House spokesperson Lauren Bis stated that evidence of noncitizen voting is accumulating. However, election experts and officials counter that voting by noncitizens is extremely rare, a felony punishable by deportation, and that the methodology used in the Census Bureau report is flawed, potentially creating false positives.
State election officials have expressed skepticism regarding the data provided by the Department of Homeland Security. California's Secretary of State questioned the reliability of the claims, noting her office had not shared voter registration lists with DHS. New Jersey reported that about 6,600 noncitizens were improperly registered through its motor vehicle system, but fewer than 400 of them had voted. Pennsylvania officials are awaiting further methodology from DHS regarding their claims. Nevada's Secretary of State also expressed confusion over the federal government's methodology.
Critics argue that this heightened focus on noncitizen voting is a strategy by Trump and his allies to lay the groundwork for challenging election outcomes they may not like. Alexandra Chandler of the Democracy Project called these claims "deceitful" and an excuse for disruptions. The administration's actions, including the release of the Census report, are seen by some as an effort to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which requires documented proof of citizenship to register to vote. This bill, passed by the House, is stalled in the Senate, with some Republicans also skeptical of its provisions due to the difficulty many potential voters would face in gathering the necessary documents.