Trump’s Baseless Claims About Immigrant Voting: A Pants on Fire! Ruling

Introduction

Former President Donald Trump, in his final push in Iowa before the 2024 caucuses, raised concerns about an alleged Democratic scheme to register immigrants illegally in the country to vote. Trump claimed that Democrats are allowing non-English-speaking immigrants to be signed up to vote, potentially affecting the upcoming election.

Trump’s Statements and Conspiracy Theories

Trump’s remarks in majority-white Iowa echo conspiracy theories of “white replacement” or “great replacement,” which posit that non-white immigrants are being brought into the country to dilute the voting power of white Americans. These theories are unfounded and have been repeatedly debunked by experts.

Historical Claims of Immigrant Voting Fraud

Trump’s claims about immigrant voting fraud are not new. He has repeatedly made false statements about immigrants voting illegally, despite a lack of evidence to support his claims. Studies have consistently shown that voter fraud is extremely rare, and there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud by immigrants.

Evidence of Sporadic Incidents of Voter Fraud by Noncitizens

While there have been isolated cases of noncitizens registering or voting, these are often due to misunderstandings or errors. In some cases, noncitizens have been mistakenly registered to vote by election officials. In other cases, noncitizens have attempted to vote, but their votes have been caught and discarded.

Colorado’s Mistake in Sending Voter Registration Postcards to Noncitizens

In 2022, Colorado’s secretary of state’s office mistakenly sent voter registration postcards to about 30,000 noncitizens. The office promptly rectified the error and worked with county clerks to ensure ineligible voters did not register. This incident highlights the importance of accurate voter registration lists and the need for election officials to take steps to prevent ineligible voters from registering.

North Carolina Case of Voter Fraud by Noncitizens

In 2019, federal prosecutors in North Carolina charged 19 individuals with voter fraud, including 16 noncitizens. Most of the individuals pleaded guilty to misdemeanors related to voting as a noncitizen. However, this case represents a small fraction of the millions of votes cast in North Carolina in recent elections.

Georgia’s Investigation of Noncitizen Voter Registration Attempts

In 2021, Georgia’s secretary of state released a report on noncitizen voter registration attempts in the state. The report found that 1,634 noncitizens had attempted to register to vote over a 25-year period, but none were ultimately registered. The system effectively prevented illegal voting in this instance.

Consequences of Voting by Noncitizens

Voting by noncitizens carries serious consequences, including deportation or incarceration. In addition, noncitizens who vote may be subject to fines or other penalties. The penalties for political parties or volunteers who try to sign up ineligible voters are also severe. Therefore, it makes no sense for Democrats or any other political group to engage in such risky behavior.

Penalties for Political Parties or Volunteers Facilitating Illegal Voting

Political parties or volunteers who knowingly or recklessly sign up ineligible voters can face criminal charges. The penalties for such offenses can include fines, imprisonment, or both. In addition, political parties or volunteers who engage in illegal voter registration activities may be subject to civil penalties.

Noncitizen Voting in Local Elections and Its Limited Scope

In some states, noncitizens are allowed to vote in local elections. However, this is a very limited practice. Noncitizens are not allowed to vote in presidential or congressional elections, and they are not allowed to vote in most state elections.

Lengthy Process of Citizenship and Voting Eligibility for Immigrants

Immigrants who want to become citizens must go through a lengthy process that can take many years. Even after becoming citizens, immigrants must wait a certain amount of time before they are eligible to vote. This process helps to ensure that only eligible citizens are allowed to vote in elections.

Conclusion

Trump’s claims about Democrats and illegal immigrant voting are baseless and lack any factual basis. There is no evidence of a Democratic scheme to register noncitizens to vote, and the instances of voter fraud by noncitizens are extremely rare. The process of becoming a citizen and gaining the right to vote is lengthy and complex, and it is highly unlikely that newly arrived immigrants would be able to vote illegally. We rate this statement Pants on Fire!