Republican lawmakers in eight states are pushing for constitutional amendments that would explicitly state that only American citizens can vote in elections. Despite the fact that it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in these states and at the federal level, these amendments continue to be pushed forward. Experts warn that this effort is part of a broader strategy to fuel the false narrative that noncitizens are voting in large numbers, perpetuating misconceptions about the voting process.
Former President Donald Trump and other Republicans have made baseless claims about noncitizen voting, and the GOP is pushing for increased measures to prevent noncitizens from voting. The proposed amendments aim to prevent noncitizens from voting in local elections and reinforce the belief that noncitizens are participating in U.S. elections in significant numbers, despite no evidence to support this claim.
While the proposed amendments would not change the voting rights in these states, lawmakers argue that they are necessary to safeguard elections and protect citizens’ rights. Supporters of the amendments believe that they will help build trust in the election process and address concerns about who is voting.
Critics, however, argue that the amendments are unnecessary as noncitizen voting is extremely rare and already illegal. They warn that these measures could promote doubt in the electoral system and potentially lead to attempts to overturn election results if they are not in favor of certain parties. The push for these amendments could also serve to drive Republican turnout in crucial battleground states ahead of the 2024 election.
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