Lawmakers' Claims of Zero Noncitizen Voting Clash with State Audit Findings
Recent state audits reveal instances of noncitizen voting, contradicting statements by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Mary Gay Scanlon that it does not occur.
During a March 19 Senate speech, Senator Bernie Sanders declared that noncitizens do not participate in American elections, a view echoed by Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon when she opposed the SAVE Act. Yet state investigations have uncovered evidence to the contrary: New Jersey reported a registration glitch affecting 6,600 noncitizens, and Pennsylvania’s 2017 analysis found 248 noncitizens who voted at least once. Ohio’s 2025 audit identified 167 noncitizen votes between 2018 and 2024, while other states reported double-digit numbers.
Over the last ten years, 40 noncitizens have been convicted of illegal voting across several states, with additional diversion program sentences in North Carolina. The ongoing debate highlights how even a small number of illegal votes can influence tightly contested local races.
Why it matters
The gap between political statements and audit data raises questions about election integrity and voting-rights legislation.
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