Election officials in battleground states debunk noncitizen voting ‘myth’

Election officials from battleground states are pushing back against false claims of widespread noncitizen voting ahead of the 2024 election. Republicans and Democrats alike detailed the measures they take to ensure only Americans vote in presidential elections, including automatic voter registration and citizenship verification processes. The officials stressed the integrity and functionality of the election system in response to efforts to crack down on noncitizens voting, which is already illegal. Republican Secretary of State Al Schmidt of Pennsylvania highlighted his review of the voter rolls in Philadelphia, which found very few noncitizens registered to vote. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson emphasized the myth of noncitizen voting and the need to debunk conspiracy theories ahead of the election. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger outlined proactive audits and verification processes his office has implemented to ensure only citizens vote. Officials also discussed steps they are taking to ensure transparency and prevent misinformation, such as clearly labeling containers and being intentional in their actions at polling places. Despite efforts to debunk conspiracy theories, challenges remain, as evidenced by false claims circulating in Maricopa County, Arizona. Overall, election officials are working to maintain the integrity and trustworthiness of the election system in the face of unfounded claims of noncitizen voting.

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