Trump and Republicans push false claims of noncitizen voting in 2024

During a recent debate, former President Donald Trump reiterated unfounded claims about widespread noncitizen voting in the U.S., a narrative gaining traction among Republicans. This rhetoric combines anti-immigrant sentiment with the falsehood of election fraud, suggesting that illegal immigrants are being encouraged to vote. A video featuring Anthony Rubin, founder of a right-wing website, claimed that 14% of noncitizens they spoke to admitted to being registered voters, extrapolating this to suggest 47,000 noncitizens in Georgia alone. However, these assertions have been thoroughly debunked. Reports indicate that three individuals in the video later clarified their statements, revealing they either misled Rubin or feared repercussions from immigration authorities. A study by the Brennan Center for Justice highlighted that out of 23.5 million votes in 2016, only 30 cases of suspected noncitizen voting were referred for investigation, representing a minuscule fraction of total votes. In 2020, the Cato Institute also found that noncitizens do not vote illegally in significant numbers. Despite this, House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed that illegal voting is a known issue, advocating for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register. Critics argue that such legislation could disenfranchise many eligible voters, particularly people of color and naturalized citizens. The White House has condemned the SAVE Act, asserting it would complicate voter registration for eligible Americans and increase the risk of purging voter rolls. The current climate of misinformation surrounding noncitizen voting appears to be a strategic move ahead of the 2024 elections, aiming to sow doubt about electoral integrity.