Noncitizen Registrations Expose Election System Weaknesses Ahead of Midterms
J. Christian Adams warns that noncitizens are being registered to vote in several states, highlighting a vulnerability that could affect tight races.
In a recent interview, J. Christian Adams of the Public Interest Legal Foundation described how noncitizens are ending up on voter registration lists in multiple states, citing examples from Oakland, California, and Hawaii. He explained that registration forms ask about citizenship, yet software often permits completion even when respondents answer “no.” Adams estimates the nationwide total could be between 4,000 and 75,000, though the data are unreliable.
While acknowledging that registration does not prove illegal voting, he warned that a handful of illegal votes can matter in razor-thin contests. He criticized both technology flaws and election officials, urging states to employ the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE database to cross-check registrants, and noted Florida as a model. Adams also linked the issue to broader election-integrity measures such as voter-ID requirements and encouraged early voting and civic participation.
Why it matters
Improper voter registrations could undermine confidence in elections, especially in closely contested races.
How this story developed
- Sep 28 Proposition 5 would drop successor question from California statewide recall ballots
- Oct 14 The Justice Department gave California election officials two days to review a list of voters it believes may be non-citizens and warned it will sue if the state does not comply.
- Oct 22 California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a petition to block the DOJ’s request to set aside the flagged ballots.
- Oct 23 Interactive quizzes have been launched to explain the 14 ballot measures ahead of the November election.
In this story
Related stories
19 in this thread