Republican lawmakers in eight states are pushing for constitutional amendments to clarify that only American citizens can vote. While it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote and is rarely a problem, these efforts are seen as fueling a false narrative that noncitizens are voting in large numbers. These initiatives could stoke fears and misconceptions about voting in the U.S. and reinforce baseless claims from former President Donald Trump and other Republicans.
Election experts warn that these measures, backed by GOP officials in multiple states, may aim to legitimize claims about noncitizen voting that are largely unfounded. Despite the fact that no state constitution allows noncitizens to vote, efforts to amend state constitutions to explicitly prohibit noncitizen voting are seen as unnecessary and potentially damaging to voter confidence in the electoral system.
Some lawmakers argue that these amendments are meant to protect the integrity of elections and reassure citizens about the voting process. However, critics believe that these measures are creating unnecessary doubt and anxiety among voters about the electoral system. The lack of evidence of widespread noncitizen voting raises concerns that these ballot measures could be an attempt to drive Republican voter turnout without addressing a real issue.
While proponents, such as Americans for Citizen Voting, claim that these amendments are about vigilance and building trust in the election process, many voting rights experts view them as unnecessary responses to a nonexistent problem. There are concerns that these efforts could erode public trust in elections and contribute to a broader disinformation campaign aimed at undermining the democratic process.
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