Republicans in Congress are ramping up efforts to reinforce former President Donald J. Trump’s baseless claims of widespread illegal voting by noncitizens, sparking concerns about the integrity of the 2024 election. Despite minimal evidence of noncitizens voting in federal elections, House Republicans are pushing through legislation aimed at cracking down on a problem that experts say barely exists.
One bill being advanced would roll back a District of Columbia law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections, with Republicans arguing that Democrats could expand this practice to other jurisdictions. Another measure would require states to obtain proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, when registering voters.
Speaker Mike Johnson recently joined Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago to pledge a tough stance on migrants crossing the border, suggesting without evidence that they are coming in unchecked to vote for President Biden. While claiming a threat to the election system, Johnson admitted to lacking evidence to support his assertions.
Democrats argue that the GOP’s focus on noncitizen voting is a pretext to challenge election results, with Representative Joseph D. Morelle stating that Republicans are suppressing voter participation. Despite claims of widespread illegal voting, experts emphasize that cases of noncitizens voting in federal elections are extremely rare.
As Republicans push forward with legislation to tighten voting restrictions, concerns about voter suppression and the potential delegitimization of election outcomes continue to grow. Critics warn that the focus on noncitizen voting is part of a broader effort to sow doubt in the electoral process and undermine the results of future elections.