GOP States’ Voter Roll Purges Spark Debate Over Voter Fraud and Suppression

GOP states are removing thousands of noncitizens from voter rolls, sparking a heated debate over election integrity and potential voter suppression.

At a Glance

GOP-led states are conducting extensive voter roll reviews, removing thousands of suspected noncitizens
Republicans argue these measures are crucial for preventing voter fraud and ensuring election integrity
Critics worry about potential voter suppression, especially impacting naturalized citizens
Studies show noncitizen voting in federal elections is extremely rare
The debate highlights tension between ensuring fair elections and maintaining inclusive voter participation

GOP States Take Action on Voter Rolls

As the 2024 election approaches, Republican-led states are taking significant steps to update their voter rolls, focusing on removing individuals suspected of being noncitizens. This initiative, championed by GOP officials, aims to bolster electoral integrity but has ignited a fierce debate about voter rights and the potential for disenfranchisement.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently announced that over 6,500 potential noncitizens have been removed from Texas voter rolls since 2021. In Ohio, Secretary of State Frank LaRose reported referring 138 apparent noncitizens for potential prosecution for voting in a recent election, with an additional 459 who registered but did not vote.

Debate Over Voter Integrity vs. Suppression

Supporters of these measures argue they are essential for maintaining the integrity of elections and preventing any possibility of voter fraud. Republicans in Congress are pushing for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote.

“Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said this past week that more than 6,500 potential noncitizens have been removed from Texas voter rolls since 2021, including 1,930 with ‘a voter history’ who have been referred for investigation by the attorney general’s office.”

However, critics argue that these efforts could lead to voter suppression, particularly affecting naturalized citizens. They contend that the methods used to identify noncitizens are often flawed and can mistakenly flag eligible voters. Voting rights advocates express concern that these measures create unnecessary hurdles for legal voters, especially those who have recently become U.S. citizens.

Illegals SHOULD NOT BE VOTING in American elections.

This month alone, more than 16,000 non-citizens have been removed from the voter rolls in 3 states. It’s a serious problem – and as the next Senate GOP Leader I’ll make sure we fix it. pic.twitter.com/qoBy5KNgFa

— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) August 28, 2024

Evidence of Noncitizen Voting

Despite the heightened focus on noncitizen voting, multiple studies and investigations have shown that it is extremely rare in federal elections. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, found only 24 cases of noncitizen voting between 2003 and 2023. This data suggests that the issue may be less prevalent than some politicians claim.

“Across 42 jurisdictions, election officials who oversaw the tabulation of 23.5 million votes in the 2016 general election referred only an estimated 30 incidents of suspected noncitizen voting for further investigation or prosecution,” it said. “[I]mproper noncitizen votes accounted for 0.0001 percent of the 2016 votes in those jurisdictions.”

It’s important to note that federal law already makes it illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, with severe penalties including fines, imprisonment, and deportation. Current tools to flag noncitizen voters are considered effective by many election experts, raising questions about the necessity of additional measures.

Three Republican-led states — Alabama, Texas and Virginia — have taken steps to remove or flag noncitizens or potential noncitizens on the voter rolls. But some details are unknown, including how many cast ballots. https://t.co/360RTkNy7B

— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) August 30, 2024

Impact on Naturalized Citizens

One of the most significant concerns raised by critics is the potential impact on naturalized citizens. Many of those flagged as potential noncitizens turn out to be legal voters who have recently become U.S. citizens. This occurs because voter rolls are often cross-checked with outdated data that doesn’t reflect recent naturalizations.

“Maybe the first time an election official tried doing this, you could say, OK, they didn’t really think it through,” said Danielle Lang, senior director of voting rights at the Campaign Legal Center, a voting rights group in Washington, D.C. “But they keep doing the same thing, even though they know that every single time what happens is that thousands and thousands of naturalized citizens are targeted and accused of being fraudulent noncitizens voting, being accused of committing felonies, having their citizenship status placed into question.”

As the debate continues, it’s clear that finding a balance between maintaining accurate voter rolls and ensuring all eligible citizens can exercise their right to vote remains a challenge. With the 2024 election on the horizon, these issues will likely remain at the forefront of political discussions, shaping the landscape of American democracy.