Republicans in several states are pushing for federal legislation to address non-referendum voting, arguing it is an urgent issue that requires intervention from the highest levels of government. But this problem doesn’t really exist and is a smokescreen for rules, regulations, and practices that help Republicans win elections.
Earlier this week, 12 of the state chairs of the right-wing National Freedom Caucus Network sent a letter To Congressional leaders calling for passage of the American Voter Eligibility Protection Act. The Republican-sponsored law aims to close loopholes that allow non-citizens to vote.
“States continue to face the prospect that vast numbers of noncitizens may illegally vote in elections and potentially influence the outcome,” the letter asserts. “We must close the loopholes that jeopardize the integrity of our elections. We need the SAVE Act to ensure that only American citizens can vote in American elections.”
this is error.
First of all, it is Already illegal Allow noncitizens to vote in federal elections. Even if a non-citizen registers to vote, he or she can be sentenced to up to five years in prison. in the study A study conducted by the left-leaning Brennan Center for Justice found only 30 cases of suspected non-referendum voting in the 2016 election, accounting for 0.0001% of the votes cast in those jurisdictions. Included in that number are potential Unpatriotic vote—do not have Cases that have been investigated and determined to be ineligible.
It’s not just the non-citizen vote. very rarenor is it coordinated by any group in a way that systematically controls the outcome of the election.
Additionally, civil rights organizations I called He called the SAVE Act “unnecessary and dangerous” and “designed to instill irrational fear in growing numbers of people of color.”
But this issue is just the latest tactic by Donald Trump and other Republican officials. teeth incite fear Around immigration. Similarly, right-wing media outlets such as Fox News and Newsmax; made a story This alleged issue is a staple of their show.
Propagating these lies creates an environment in which voter suppression laws and regulations flourish. Once these rules are in place, voters will: banned from votingand often when election turnout is low. it was favored The political fortunes of the Republican Party (but that doesn’t apply to every election).
Non-citizen votes are also a convenient boogeyman for the right. conservative thinking And candidates are often unpopular, but instead of confronting this unattractiveness, the right can simply blame non-nationals, the people they demonize, for their defeat. playing cards I did this in 2017when he falsely claimed that illegal immigration was to blame for his loss in the popular vote to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
Campaigning against an imagined non-referendum wave serves many purposes for the right. Rallying supporters against immigration, pushing for legislation that helps Republicans and absolving them of electoral losses. While the core issue is a hoax, the implications are unfortunately very real.
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