A recent House panel led by Republicans brought attention to the issue of noncitizens registering to vote in key states and highlighted the need for stricter laws to prevent voter fraud. Testimonies from witnesses, including Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, underscored concerns about noncitizens potentially impacting the 2024 election through illegal voting.
One witness, Rosemary Jenks from the Immigration Accountability Project, pointed out flaws in current federal laws that could be exploited by noncitizens seeking to register to vote. By granting work authorization documents and driver’s licenses to noncitizens, Jenks argued that the existing legal framework creates opportunities for noncitizens to participate in elections.
While Democrats like Mary Scanlon dismissed the issue as a “propaganda campaign,” Republicans like Rep. Dan Bishop pushed for measures like the SAVE Act to require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Cleta Mitchell, a conservative legal expert, criticized the Biden administration for lax border control and suggested that some Democrats may benefit politically from noncitizens voting.
Despite some skepticism about the prevalence of noncitizen voting, the hearing highlighted ongoing efforts by states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls and the need for enhanced safeguards against illegal voting.