Despite Rarity of Illegal Voting by Noncitizens, Republicans are Making it a Key Election Issue

Only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in this fall’s presidential and major office elections, but the issue of noncitizens voting has gained significant attention recently.
Republicans have raised alarms about the potential for noncitizens to vote, particularly in light of recent increases in immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite the rarity of actual noncitizen voting, GOP officials have intensified efforts to address the issue. These measures include reviewing voter rolls, issuing executive orders, and proposing constitutional amendments in various states.
Democrats argue that these actions may create unnecessary obstacles for legal voters and inflate the perceived problem of noncitizen voting. They contend that the focus on noncitizen voting is disproportionate to the actual risk.
Under a 1996 U.S. law, noncitizens are prohibited from voting in federal elections, with violators facing fines, imprisonment, and potential deportation. When registering to vote, individuals affirm under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens. Federal law mandates that states regularly update their voter rolls to remove ineligible individuals, including immigrants living in the country illegally.
While no state constitutions explicitly permit noncitizen voting, some localities in California, Maryland, Vermont, and the District of Columbia allow noncitizens to vote in specific local elections, such as school boards and city councils.