FACT: Noncitizens have nothing to gain—and everything to lose—if they vote illegally.
It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in a federal election. As of 1996, federal law explicitly prohibits noncitizens from casting a ballot in federal elections.
States have multiple systems in place to prevent noncitizen voting, and noncitizens face penalties for voting unlawfully.
- Illegally voting in a federal election can result in a fine and up to five years in prison.
- A noncitizen found guilty of this crime may face deportation and revocation of their legal status under immigration law.
- Falsely claiming U.S. citizenship for the purpose of registering to vote may also result in deportation or denial of future immigration status.
FACT: Studies have found no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting in U.S. elections.
- According to the CATO Institute, “noncitizens don’t illegally vote in detectable Numbers,” and claims about noncitizen voter fraud are “bogus.”
- A recent search of the Heritage Foundation election fraud database found only 85 cases involving allegations of noncitizen voting from 2002 to 2023.
- A Brennan Center for Justice study of 42 jurisdictions in the 2016 elections found that votes election officials suspected (not proven) to be cast by noncitizens accounted for just 0.0001 percent of the total votes cast.
FACT: Lawful Permanent Residents (i.e. “green card” holders) and other noncitizens who are lawfully present are issued driver’s licenses in every state, even though they cannot vote.
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