“Federal and state laws prohibit noncitizens from voting, but federal law paradoxically creates opportunities for noncitizens to illegally register to vote, while states must “It prohibits requiring proof of citizenship. This is a common-sense measure to identify ‘illegal registration,'” Paxton wrote to Jadu. “This ban on federal citizenship checks makes little sense under any circumstances, but it is especially troubling given the scale of the current illegal immigration crisis.”
“For these reasons, Texans are increasingly concerned about the possibility of non-referendum voting, and I have a responsibility to protect the integrity of our elections,” the Republican attorney general continued.
A man fills out a ballot at a polling place in Mount Gilead, North Carolina, on May 17, 2022. North Carolina is one of several states that hold midterm primaries. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
As part of the Paxton investigation into the extent to which non-citizens are illegally registering to vote or have already voted in Texas, the attorney general has received information from the Texas Secretary of State’s office regarding non-citizenship claims. A list of 454,300 registered voters was obtained. Confirmed.
“While there is no doubt that the vast majority of voters on the list are citizens eligible to vote, Texans have no way of knowing whether any of the voters on the list are noncitizens who are not eligible to vote. I’m equally confident that there isn’t. Please vote,” Paxton said.
The attorney general explained that a recent Texas Secretary of State audit confirmed that more than 1,300 non-citizens were registered to vote in four randomly selected counties.
When Texas residents register to vote using a driver’s license or other state-issued ID card, their citizenship status is automatically verified, Paxton explained. The verification is necessary because noncitizens who legally reside in the state cannot vote, but can legally apply for and obtain a driver’s license or ID card, he said. (Related: ‘Unlawful and Reckless’: Texas Files Lawsuit to Block Mass Voter Registration Mailer Program)
The people on Paxton’s list did not use driver’s licenses or other forms of identification to register to vote, and the Texas Department of Public Safety was unable to collect that information, making their identities unconfirmed. Paxton said. The Attorney General has given USCIS until October 17 to comply with the request.
Paxton’s letter follows other legal efforts across the country to ensure voter integrity, particularly regarding the threat of noncitizen participation in elections. Arizona’s secretary of state was accused last week of refusing to turn over the names of 200,000 registered voters who did not provide proof of citizenship.
USCIS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
