The ongoing border crisis in the United States is continuing to escalate, with an estimated 8 to 10 million illegal immigrants entering the country since Joe Biden took office in 2021 and relaxed border security measures. As these individuals are being offered federal benefits, asylum, and work permits, concerns are rising about the potential for them to illegally register to vote in the upcoming 2024 election.
States are responsible for ensuring that only eligible voters are on their registration lists, and the issue often stems from the integration of voter registration with driver’s license issuance through the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Despite claims that noncitizens should not be allowed to register or vote, many are automatically opted into registration in at least 44 states, regardless of their citizenship status. Some states, such as Arizona, have been using DMV data to filter out noncitizens, but more states need to follow suit to ensure accurate voter rolls.
The Biden administration’s push to register left-leaning voters through Executive Order 14019 has raised concerns about voter disenfranchisement and the targeting of certain populations for registration. Some states, like Pennsylvania, have inadvertently registered noncitizens through automated processes, leading to legal challenges and calls for the Supreme Court to review the executive order.
Virginia has taken steps to modernize its voter registration process by cross-checking DMV legal presence codes to filter out ineligible voters. Other states can learn from Virginia’s example and utilize various data sources to maintain accurate voter rolls, including the SAVE database for immigration status verification.
Efforts are also being made at the federal level to address voter registration issues, with proposed legislation requiring documentation of citizenship to register to vote. States have access to technology and databases that can help verify the accuracy and legitimacy of voter registration data, such as cross-referencing death records with the Social Security Administration.
While it is often claimed that noncitizens voting illegally is rare, records from Virginia’s Department of Elections show otherwise. Efforts to remove ineligible voters from registration lists have revealed instances of noncitizens casting ballots, highlighting the importance of robust verification processes to prevent voter fraud.
Overall, there is a need for comprehensive efforts at both the state and federal levels to address the vulnerabilities in the voter registration system and ensure that only eligible individuals are able to participate in elections. Voter integrity groups emphasize the importance of verifying citizenship through DMV legal presence codes to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
