Noncitizens living in California are receiving voter registration forms after renewing their driver’s licenses. In at least one instance, a noncitizen who checked the box on the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) paperwork denoting that they are not a U.S. citizen still received a voter registration form in the mail.
At least 19 states and the District of Columbia allow noncitizens to obtain driver’s licenses through their state’s DMV. Meanwhile, the National Voter Registration Act requires state DMVs to provide an option for those obtaining or renewing a driver’s license to register to vote on the same form. If a noncitizen claims to have U.S. citizenship—by simply checking a box—they will likely be added to voter rolls unless those rolls are examined with extra scrutiny.
Like the other 18 states and Washington, D.C., California lacks additional laws requiring more stringent proof of citizenship for voter registration. This makes the likelihood of noncitizens illegally voting in state and federal elections a genuine concern.
While the U.S. government’s mandated transition to REAL ID should prevent noncitizens from being able to register to vote through their driver’s license application—as they cannot obtain a REAL ID under federal law—some states are already carving out loopholes. In May, The National Pulse reported that Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would still allow noncitizens to obtain a standard state-issued driver’s license—with applicants being automatically registered to vote unless they initially decline the option.
The National Pulse has previously reported that at least 37 noncitizens in North Carolina faced federal prosecution for illegally voting in U.S. elections. Additionally, an analysis of those cases suggests noncitizens are three times as likely to vote for Democrat candidates.
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A friend, who is not a US citizen, informed me that California is registering non-citizens, including him, to vote. He has received 2 voter registration cards, despite marking that he is a “non-citizen” on a recent address update with the DMV pic.twitter.com/BA5U5Mgxt5
— Chadwick Moore (@Chadwick_Moore) July 9, 2024