❓WHAT HAPPENED: A detailed investigation published by the New York Post reveals systemic failures in America’s voter registration and electoral system have allowed for hundreds of thousands of noncitizens to register as voters in U.S. elections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Representative Chip Roy (R-TX), Public Interest Legal Foundation president J. Christian Adams, and noncitizen voters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The report was published on March 16, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I wish it were a conspiracy plot because it would be easier to bust. This is systemic failure.”  – J. Christian Adams

🎯IMPACT: President Donald J. Trump is pushing the SAVE America Act, legislation aiming to mandate proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. However, the bill is stalled in the Senate, unable to overcome a Democrat filibuster.

A detailed investigation published by the New York Post reveals systemic failures in America’s voter registration and electoral system that have allowed hundreds of thousands of noncitizens to register to vote in U.S. elections. While allegations of concerted efforts by Democrat-aligned nonprofits and electioneering groups seeking to register noncitizens have dominated headlines, The Post has found that government-sanctioned voter registration programs, a lack of election law enforcement, and a lack of awareness on the part of noncitizens are more often at fault for illegal registrations.

“At times, it’s an organic process of aliens getting sucked in unwittingly. Maybe they’d been whipping down Modelos [beers] at a festival, and they’re doing some guy a favor who is in their face with a clipboard. Or, they’re at the DMV and get these pop-up windows asking them to register. They think, ‘I must be allowed,’” J. Christian Adams, president of Public Interest Legal Foundation, explained. “I wish it were a conspiracy plot because it would be easier to bust. This is systemic failure.”

“It’s way worse than the left says, but it’s way better than some others say,” Adams suggested.

The breakdowns in election law and procedures meant to prevent noncitizens from registering to vote and casting ballots in American elections may occur primarily at the local level. Database glitches, human error, and negligence are most often cited as the cause for noncitizens appearing on voter rolls. This is compounded by a general lack of awareness and confusion among noncitizens, who, as Adams noted, are often presented with the option to register to vote when filing paperwork at their local DMV, despite this being illegal.

Concerningly, data published by Rasmussen Reports in 2024 suggests a significant number of noncitizens are voting in American elections in contravention of federal law. According to the pollster, 97 percent of noncitizens polled acknowledged having voted for a candidate in the 2020 presidential election. In one survey, Rasmussen Reports polled 2,466 likely U.S. voters, of whom 222 either stated they were noncitizens or did not know their citizenship status—meaning 10 percent of the sample had questionable voting eligibility.

The potential impact that noncitizen voters could have in U.S. elections—especially local contests or races with very narrow margins of victory—has become a top issue for American voters. Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pushing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, legislation aiming to mandate proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.

Proponents, including President Donald J. Trump and Representative Chip Roy (R-TX), argue the measure is essential to protect election integrity. However, the bill is currently stalled in the Senate, unable to overcome a Democrat filibuster. Polling shows over 70 percent of voters support the SAVE Act, including half of Democrats.

Image by Chris Phan.

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