A recent audit in Georgia has unveiled noncitizen voter registrations, sparking a call for federal law updates to safeguard election integrity.
At a Glance
- Georgia’s first citizenship audit found 1,634 noncitizens attempted to register.
- Twenty noncitizen registrations were canceled and sent for prosecution.
- Georgia officials urge Congress for updates to the National Voter Registration Act.
- The audit highlights gaps in federal voter registration safeguards.
Results of Georgia’s Voter Audit
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger conducted a citizenship review, discovering 1,634 noncitizens attempting to register to vote. Out of these, 20 registrations were confirmed and removed just in time for the 2024 election. These findings were facilitated by the USCIS’s SAVE program, which flagged noncitizens and put their registrations in pending status.
The audit revealed the effectiveness of Georgia’s procedures in maintaining election integrity. Other registrations remain under scrutiny, ensuring no ineligible individual casts a ballot. The Georgia Department of Driver Services and the Department of Homeland Security’s USCIS supported this data review.
Pressure grows on Georgia Secretary of State to release results of noncitizen voter roll audit https://t.co/MyrtcJnca9
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 21, 2024
Call for Legislative Action
In response to these findings, Secretary Raffensperger and state officials are advocating that Congress reconsider and update the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The gap in federal election laws allows noncitizens the possibility of appearing on voter rolls, a situation also encountered in other states like Texas and Ohio.
“All twenty of those voter registrations have been canceled, and all of them are being referred to local law enforcement for prosecution,” said Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Noncitizen registrations can result in severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $100,000. Georgia intends to continue checking and removing such individuals to reassure voters of the electoral process’s integrity.
Public and Official Reactions
This audit has prompted public debate and pressure on state officials, including calls for transparency from figures like former Sen. Kelly Loeffler. Critics, including the Biden administration, have been accused of not aiding states in voter roll maintenance.
“If state officials want voters to trust in the process, they must stop delaying the transparency they have repeatedly promised. We call on Secretary Raffensperger to immediately release the full results of his citizenship audit – and give voters the peace of mind that only American citizens are deciding American elections.” stated former Sen. Kelly Loeffler.
Election Integrity Network Founder Cleta Mitchell suggests this situation demonstrates the need for stronger voter registration safeguards. The emphasis remains on both state and federal levels to ensure only eligible voters participate in elections.
