Republicans in both federal and state legislatures have made noncitizen voting a priority, despite evidence showing it’s not a widespread issue. The party argues that more legislation is needed to protect the sanctity of the vote as the country grapples with illegal immigration. Democrats, on the other hand, see the focus on noncitizen voting as a distraction and a dangerous tactic to cast doubt on the upcoming presidential election.
The issue gained prominence when former President Donald Trump suggested, without evidence, that Democrats were encouraging illegal migration to register newcomers to vote. However, experts have stated that the number of noncitizens voting in federal elections is negligible, with mechanisms in place to catch and remove them from voting rolls.
Legislators in states like Georgia and Ohio have conducted audits that found minimal instances of noncitizens attempting to register to vote. Despite this, Republicans are pushing for more stringent voter ID requirements to prevent noncitizen voting, while Democrats fear it could disenfranchise eligible voters.
While the focus has been on noncitizen voting in federal elections, there is a separate issue emerging at the local level, with some cities allowing noncitizens to vote in local contests. State lawmakers are introducing ballot measures to address this, such as a constitutional amendment in South Carolina that would explicitly state that only citizens can vote. Ultimately, the debate over noncitizen voting continues to be a contentious issue as the country prepares for the upcoming presidential election.
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