Eight American states take decisive action on their electoral systems as voters head to the polls to address citizenship requirements in state elections.
According to Fox News, voters in Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Idaho have approved constitutional amendments that explicitly prohibit noncitizens from participating in elections.
The amendments represent a significant shift in how states define voter eligibility. While federal law has prohibited noncitizen voting since 1996, these state-level changes add another layer of legal clarity to existing restrictions. The modifications reflect a growing trend among states to strengthen their constitutional language regarding voter qualifications.
The wave of constitutional amendments follows similar changes adopted by six other states over the past six years. North Dakota, Florida, Colorado, Alabama, Ohio, and Louisiana have already modified their constitutions to specify voting requirements. These modifications typically involve changing the language from "every citizen" to "only a citizen" can vote.
Several jurisdictions currently maintain different standards for local elections. Washington D.C. and select municipalities in Maryland, Vermont, and California permit noncitizen voting in local contests. These exceptions highlight the complex nature of voting rights at different governmental levels.
The constitutional changes come amid increased scrutiny of voter rolls across the country. States have recently intensified efforts to verify citizenship status and remove ineligible voters from their registration lists.
In recent months, state officials have seen significant actions to address voter eligibility. Virginia's removal of 6,000 potentially ineligible voters led to legal challenges from the Department of Justice against Governor Glenn Youngkin. The state's actions occurred after citizenship verification efforts during a two-week grace period.
Texas has reported substantial progress in its verification efforts. Governor Greg Abbott announced the removal of more than 6,500 potential noncitizens from voter rolls since 2021. The state's actions represent part of a broader national trend toward stricter voter roll maintenance.
Ohio's Secretary of State has taken aggressive steps to ensure election integrity. The office referred 138 apparent noncitizens for prosecution after discovering they had participated in recent elections. Alabama has also joined these efforts, deactivating 3,251 previously registered voters identified as noncitizens by federal authorities.
Legislative concern over noncitizen voting has reached federal levels. A group of 73 lawmakers have formally addressed their concerns to Attorney General Merrick Garland. Their communication emphasizes the serious nature of reports about noncitizen participation in federal elections.
The Department of Justice faces increasing pressure to respond to these concerns. The lawmakers' October letter followed an unanswered July inquiry, highlighting the growing urgency of the issue. Their persistence underscores the national significance of election integrity measures.
The constitutional amendments passed on Tuesday strengthen existing federal prohibitions. These state-level changes demonstrate a clear voter preference for explicit constitutional language regarding citizenship requirements.
The successful passage of these amendments in eight states demonstrates strong voter support for clear electoral guidelines. These constitutional changes align state laws more closely with federal requirements while maintaining distinct state sovereignty over election procedures. The amendments address a complex legal landscape where federal, state, and local voting rights intersect. While federal elections maintain strict citizenship requirements, some local jurisdictions have chosen different approaches for their municipal contests.
