Eight US States to Vote on Amendments to Ban Noncitizen Voting

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON – Eight U.S. states are proposing to ban noncitizens from voting, despite the fact that such voting is already prohibited. Critics argue this initiative is part of a strategy by Donald Trump and his Republican allies to challenge the legitimacy of the presidential election should he lose again on November 5.

Among the states involved, two are key battlegrounds expected to influence the election outcome. The proposals, slated for the November ballot, aim to amend the state constitutions to clarify that only citizens are permitted to vote. Detractors believe this will have minimal practical impact, given that noncitizen voting is already illegal.

These measures will be presented to voters in the pivotal states of North Carolina and Wisconsin, alongside solidly Republican states including Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.

Supporters of the amendments argue they address voter fears stemming from unprecedented levels of illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border during the Biden administration as well as the identification of a small number of potential noncitizens on voter rolls in some regions.

Analysts and advocates for democracy point out that it is illegal for noncitizens to participate in federal elections and attribute waning voter confidence to Trump’s false claims regarding election fraud surrounding the 2020 election.

The proposed amendments are part of a broader Republican effort that has involved multiple lawsuits challenging voter registration protocols and attempts by House Republicans to pass legislation mandating proof of citizenship for voter registration.

“Individuals across the state are concerned with the electoral process, and they want to make sure that the votes counted are legal votes,” stated Jason Simmons, chair of the North Carolina Republican Party.

Opponents, including some Republicans, contend these measures reflect Trump’s ongoing efforts to undermine trust in U.S. elections. “You’ve had the loser of the last presidential election arguing that the election was fraudulent for the last four years, and 70% of Republicans believe it,” noted Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who has worked with prominent party leaders.

At present, there are 17 localities in the U.S. that permit legal noncitizens to vote in local elections but not in federal ones, including liberal strongholds like San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Additionally, Santa Ana, California, has a measure on its ballot this year to allow noncitizen residents to vote in municipal elections.

Research has shown that instances of illegal noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare, a conclusion echoed by election officials from states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

“The evidence shows that this just really isn’t a concern,” said Hannah Alarian, a political science professor at the University of Florida. “It’s not an issue really prevalent at all.”

Trump’s accusations regarding noncitizen voting began during the 2016 presidential election. Despite winning the Electoral College that year, he received fewer votes nationwide than his opponent, Hillary Clinton, a result he falsely attributed to millions of noncitizens voting illegally. He continues to promote the idea that Democrats are facilitating illegal immigration to bolster their electoral chances.

Many congressional Republicans have used these unsubstantiated allegations to justify their willingness to contest potential Trump losses when the 2024 election results are certified in Congress on January 6.

“The lies being spread by Trump about noncitizen voting have been repeatedly debunked,” said U.S. Representative Joseph Morelle, the leading Democrat on a House committee overseeing elections. “They have persisted in a clear attempt to generate anxiety among voters, serving as the basis for false claims of election fraud come November.”