Dozens of lawmakers in the House and Senate are urging the Justice Department to provide more details on its actions to prevent noncitizen voting in federal elections. They have raised concerns about the integrity of elections, citing instances of noncitizens being identified on voter rolls in various states.
A letter signed by 73 lawmakers, spearheaded by Sen. Bill Hagerty and Rep. Andy Biggs, expressed deep worries over reports of noncitizens registering and voting in federal elections. The lawmakers highlighted that their previous inquiry in July on this matter had gone unanswered, despite the impending 2024 Presidential Election.
The lawmakers specifically requested information on the number of prosecutions related to noncitizen voting, the DOJ's protocol for handling such allegations, and the preventive measures in place. Noncitizens are prohibited from voting, and concerns have been raised by prominent Republicans, including former President Trump, regarding potential noncitizen participation in elections.
In response to these concerns, Republican lawmakers proposed the SAVE Act in August, aiming to mandate states to verify citizenship in person during voter registration and to remove noncitizens from voter rolls. Recent revelations from Virginia and Texas about noncitizens on voter rolls further fueled the lawmakers' apprehensions.
The DOJ itself recently announced charges against an illegal immigrant for using a U.S. citizen's identity to vote and obtain a passport fraudulently. The lawmakers emphasized that noncitizen participation in elections poses a significant threat to election integrity and public trust.
Despite their previous inquiry, lawmakers are yet to receive a response from the DOJ. They are seeking information on the steps being taken to prosecute noncitizens registered to vote in the upcoming 2024 election. The DOJ's recent lawsuit against Alabama for allegedly removing voters with noncitizen identification numbers close to Election Day has added to the ongoing scrutiny.
The lawsuit against Alabama is based on the violation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which mandates states to finalize voter registration list changes at least 90 days before federal elections. The lawmakers remain steadfast in their pursuit of transparency and accountability in safeguarding the electoral process from noncitizen interference.
