Several Republican-controlled states have taken action to remove thousands of noncitizens from their voter registration lists as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
According to a report by The Daily Caller, officials in Alabama, Virginia, Texas, and Ohio have identified and removed as many as 17,000 noncitizens from state voting rolls.
The effort comes amid polls indicating a tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, particularly in key swing states. State leaders have made recent announcements detailing their efforts to maintain the integrity of voter rolls by ensuring only eligible citizens are registered to vote.
In Alabama, the secretary of state's office identified 3,251 individuals registered to vote who had been issued noncitizen identification numbers. Virginia's attorney general reported removing 6,000 noncitizens from voter rolls since taking office. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that his administration had purged more than 6,500 noncitizens from state voter rolls.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose stated that his office had identified 597 individuals registered to vote despite not being citizens, including 138 people who appear to have already cast a ballot. LaRose emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the voting process.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said:
I'm duty-bound to make sure people who haven't yet earned citizenship in this country do not vote in our elections. The law requires me to refer [the noncitizens who allegedly voted in Ohio] to the attorney general, and that's what we're doing today.
Some election officials are facing legal pressure to address the issue of noncitizens on voter rolls. America First Legal, a Washington, D.C.-based organization led by former Trump administration senior advisor Stephen Miller, filed a lawsuit against the Maricopa County, Arizona, recorder in August. The lawsuit alleges that the recorder disregarded state law by not purging voter rolls of noncitizens.
At the federal level, Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy introduced legislation earlier this year that would require states to remove noncitizens from existing voter rolls if signed into law.
However, the Biden-Harris administration has strongly opposed the bill, with President Joe Biden claiming the legislation is based on "easily proven falsehoods."
In response to the White House's opposition, Rep. Roy stated:
I'm honored to be in the crosshairs of the White House — This administration is clearly not interested in safeguarding American citizen's right to vote. This is about political power.
The efforts to remove noncitizens from voter rolls coincide with what appears to be a close presidential election. Recent national surveys show that Vice President Harris has a narrow 1.8% lead over Trump, well within the margin of error of most polls. Swing states such as Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin are also showing incredibly tight races.
These voter roll purges are part of a broader push by Republican-led states to enhance election integrity measures. Supporters argue that these actions are necessary to prevent potential voter fraud and ensure that only eligible citizens participate in elections. Critics, however, contend that such measures may lead to the disenfranchisement of legitimate voters and could disproportionately affect certain communities.
As the 2024 election approaches, the issue of noncitizens on voter rolls remains a contentious topic. Republican-led states are taking action to remove noncitizens from voting lists, while facing opposition from the Biden-Harris administration. The debate over election integrity measures continues to be a significant point of political disagreement, with potential implications for the upcoming presidential race and future elections.
