House Republicans from Minnesota have joined the Republican National Committee in demanding an explanation from the state’s Democratic administration after it was discovered that noncitizens were improperly registered to vote. The Republicans claim the state’s automatic voter registration system allowed ineligible individuals to register and are seeking a detailed accounting of how the errors occurred and the number of individuals affected.
A controversial Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship to vote is back in court, with the Supreme Court allowing some enforcement while concerns about noncitizen voting persist. The law has faced legal challenges, sparking debate about voter ID requirements and the potential for voter fraud.
Despite existing laws prohibiting noncitizen voting in US elections, concerns about potential noncitizen voter registration and participation have escalated, particularly among Republicans. While incidents of noncitizen voting are rare, GOP officials are taking measures to address these concerns, including voter roll reviews and state-level legislation. However, Democrats argue that these measures could disenfranchise legal voters and are unnecessary, while experts suggest existing mechanisms effectively flag noncitizen voters.
House Republicans have passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill aimed at preventing noncitizens from voting in federal elections. The bill requires states to request proof of citizenship from all voter registrants and provides mechanisms to ensure the accuracy of voter rolls. However, the bill has faced strong opposition from Democrats, who argue that it is unnecessary and could disenfranchise eligible voters.
Republican Senator Roger Marshall has introduced legislation that would prohibit noncitizens from voting in local elections in Washington, D.C. The bill, the “Demanding Citizenship in DC Elections Act,” requires voters to be U.S. citizens and provide proof of citizenship. This move comes in response to the Local Resident Voting Rights Act passed by the D.C. Council in 2022, which allowed noncitizens who have resided in the city for at least 30 days to vote in local elections. Marshall’s bill aims to address concerns about election integrity and the potential for noncitizens to influence the outcome of local elections.
