Fact Check: Noncitizen voting is a very rare occurrence in U.S. elections.

Fact Check: "Noncitizen voting is a very rare occurrence in U.S. elections."

What We Know

The claim that noncitizen voting is rare in U.S. elections is supported by a variety of data and expert analyses. According to a report by the Associated Press, only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections, and while there have been concerns raised about the potential for noncitizens to vote, evidence suggests that such occurrences are infrequent. A comprehensive survey conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice found that after the 2016 election, only two possible instances of noncitizen voting were identified out of approximately 137.7 million voters nationwide.

Furthermore, a report by NPR indicates that the number of noncitizens voting illegally is minuscule and does not impact the outcomes of elections. This is corroborated by audits conducted in various states, which have consistently shown very few instances of noncitizen voting, as noted in a report by ABC News.

Analysis

The evidence supporting the rarity of noncitizen voting is compelling. The Brennan Center for Justice and NPR provide thorough analyses based on extensive surveys and audits. These sources are credible and rely on systematic data collection and expert evaluations, making their findings reliable.

Critics of the narrative surrounding noncitizen voting often cite isolated incidents or anecdotal evidence, which can be misleading. For example, while some Republican officials have reported instances of potential noncitizen voting in states like Texas and Ohio, these numbers are small relative to the total number of registered voters in those states. In Texas, over 6,500 potential noncitizens were flagged, but this is a small fraction of the nearly 18 million registered voters in the state, as highlighted in the Associated Press.

Moreover, the legal framework surrounding voting in the U.S. imposes strict penalties for noncitizens who attempt to vote, which serves as a deterrent. The NPR article emphasizes that the existing laws effectively prevent noncitizen voting, further supporting the claim that such occurrences are rare.

Conclusion

Verdict: True. The claim that noncitizen voting is a very rare occurrence in U.S. elections is substantiated by extensive data and expert analyses. The evidence indicates that while there are isolated cases, they do not represent a significant threat to the integrity of U.S. elections. The legal framework and the penalties associated with illegal voting further reinforce the rarity of this phenomenon.

Fact Check: Noncitizen voting is a very rare occurrence in U.S. elections.