A recent study by Just Facts, revealing that 10% to 27% of non-citizen adults in the U.S. are illegally registered to vote, underscores a critical vulnerability in our electoral system. With the potential for 2 to 5 million non-citizens to be illegally registered and 1 to 2.7 million expected to vote in the upcoming 2024 elections, it is imperative that we implement robust voter ID laws to ensure only American citizens participate in our elections.
According to Just Facts, based on data from the U.S. Census and a refined methodology, millions of non-citizens are currently registered to vote illegally. This includes individuals who are not citizens but are listed on voter rolls, with significant numbers having already participated in past elections. These findings echo the results of a 2014 study published in the journal Electoral Studies, which found that non-citizen votes had likely influenced critical election outcomes.
Every illegal vote cast by a non-citizen nullifies the legitimate vote of an American citizen, effectively undermining the electoral process. The Just Facts study suggests that the sheer number of non-citizens registered to vote is large enough to sway close elections, including presidential races and pivotal congressional seats. This poses a direct threat to the integrity of our electoral system and the principle of fair representation.
Currently, federal and state laws require people to declare their citizenship to register to vote, but they do not require proof of citizenship. Voter registrars in Texas do not have the ability to verify citizenship and must take the person registering at their word. The federal government is denying voter registrars and the Texas Secretary of State access to citizenship data.
To make matters worse, due to a consent decree made in 2019 to avoid a lawsuit, non-citizens can only be removed from the rolls if they self-identify when renewing a driver’s license at DPS or to avoid jury duty. Voter registrars will not be notified by the Secretary of State of suspected non-citizens on the voter rolls in any other circumstance.
If the federal government wants to block states from their citizenship records, Texas will just have to require proof of citizenship along with or prior to registration. Requiring government-issued photo IDs that prove citizenship would significantly reduce the risk of non-citizen voting. Such IDs could include passports, enhanced driver’s licenses, or other official documents that confirm the bearer’s status as a U.S. citizen. This step is not only logical but necessary to protect the integrity of our elections.
Opponents of voter ID laws argue that they are unnecessary and that non-citizen voting is minimal. However, the evidence from multiple studies, including the recent Just Facts findings, contradicts this claim. Ensuring that only citizens vote is not about disenfranchising voters but about preserving the fundamental principle of elected representation.
By implementing enhanced voter ID laws upon registration, we can safeguard our elections from illegal voting and ensure that every citizen’s vote is counted accurately. It is a step towards restoring public confidence in our electoral process.
As we approach a big election in November, the need for keeping foreign nationals from voting in Texas has never been more urgent. The findings from Just Facts highlight a critical issue that must be addressed to protect the integrity of our elections. By requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, we can ensure that only Americans vote in America’s elections, preserving the sanctity of our electoral process. It is time to act and implement voter ID laws to secure our electoral system for future generations.