During a recent government meeting, officials expressed deep concern over the ongoing narrative surrounding non-citizens voting in federal elections. The discussion highlighted the alarming statistic that over 6,000 individuals have been removed from voting rolls in the past two years, allegedly due to non-citizen status. However, officials noted that the actual incidence of non-citizen registration is exceedingly low, raising questions about the rationale behind these removals.

The meeting underscored the integrity of the election system, which has been repeatedly validated. Officials warned that spreading unfounded doubts about the electoral process poses a significant risk, particularly to vulnerable populations such as new and returning citizens. Citing a report from the Virginia Mercury, they referenced a study by the Heritage Foundation that identified only 24 cases of non-citizen voting over a span of 20 years, a figure that pales in comparison to the millions of votes cast.

Further supporting this stance, the Associated Press reported on a 2022 audit in Georgia, where officials scrutinized voting rolls for non-citizen registrations. The audit revealed that while 1,600 individuals had attempted to register over 25 years, none were successfully registered due to the vigilance of election officials. Additionally, the Brennan Center for Justice indicated that in 2016, election officials overseeing 23.5 million votes reported only 30 suspected incidents of non-citizen voting across 42 jurisdictions.

The consensus among officials is clear: non-citizen voting is illegal, and there is no credible evidence to suggest an increase in such occurrences. The meeting concluded with a call for a more informed dialogue on the integrity of the electoral process, emphasizing the need to protect the rights of all citizens.