It is quite alarming to see former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson pushing for new legislation to crack down on noncitizen voting, despite the fact that such practices are already illegal and occur rarely. The proposed bill that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote is simply unnecessary, as it is already a crime to register or vote as a noncitizen in both state and federal elections. The exaggerated claims made by Johnson during the presentation of this bill, suggest a lack of understanding about the current laws and regulations in place to prevent noncitizen voting.
The false statements made by Johnson, insinuating that “so many people” are registering to vote when they obtain welfare benefits, only serve to stoke fear and division among Americans. The reality is that very few individuals actually engage in noncitizen voting, and the consequences for such actions are severe, including jail time, fines, and deportation. The suggestion that undocumented immigrants are somehow influencing the outcome of elections is not only baseless but also harmful to the immigrant communities in the United States.
While the idea of requiring documentary proof of citizenship may seem logical on the surface, it could have far-reaching negative consequences. Such a requirement has the potential to disenfranchise millions of Americans who do not have access to passports or birth certificates. The undue burden placed on voters to provide such documentation could lead to decreased voter turnout and undermine the democratic process.
Despite numerous investigations into noncitizen voting, very little evidence has been found to suggest that it is a widespread issue. The Brennan Center’s findings of only 30 suspected noncitizen votes out of 23.5 million in 2016 confirm that this is a rare occurrence. The disbandment of Trump’s election integrity commission without releasing any evidence of voter fraud further highlights the lack of substance behind these claims. It is concerning to see politicians like Johnson and Trump exploiting the issue of noncitizen voting to further their own political agendas.
When instances of noncitizen voting do occur, they are often the result of misunderstandings or mistakes, rather than intentional fraud. As highlighted by former Biden advisor Justin Levitt, there have been cases where individuals in the process of naturalization were mistakenly led to believe they had been granted citizenship and subsequently attempted to register to vote. These misunderstandings are not a reflection of rampant voter fraud but rather a lack of clarity in the naturalization process.
The misguided legislation proposed by Trump and Johnson, along with their baseless claims about noncitizen voting, only serve to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and perpetuate unfounded fears about immigrant communities. It is crucial that policymakers approach the issue of voting rights with facts, empathy, and a genuine commitment to upholding the democratic principles on which this country was founded. Let us not allow fear-mongering and misinformation to dictate our approach to one of the most fundamental aspects of our democracy.