DOJ says over 400 noncitizens were on Washington state voter rolls
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The Justice Department said investigators found more than 400 noncitizens on Washington voter rolls, with about 1,500 instances of ballots cast by those individuals, raising fresh questions about how the state’s registration systems work.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that investigators have identified more than 400 noncitizens who are registered to vote in Washington state. Some of the individuals, many of whom hold green cards, have voted in multiple elections dating back to the 1980s.
"We have identified over 400 noncitizens who are registered to vote and have voted in multiple elections. This is only the tip of the iceberg," acting U.S. attorney Neil Floyd for the Western District of Washington said in a statement.
Floyd said the investigation relied on records from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, revealing that some people who applied for certain benefits also cast ballots. The office counted roughly 1,500 instances of noncitizens voting, with some individuals having voted as many as 27 times.
Federal officials noted that many green-card holders were inadvertently registered through Washington’s Motor Voter program, which links voter registration to the state Department of Licensing. The department’s website states that automatic registration requires proof of U.S. citizenship during driver’s-license or ID-card applications.
The DOJ notice asks Washington state to set aside ballots cast by the identified individuals until their citizenship status can be confirmed. Voting as a noncitizen can lead to criminal charges, including false statements on naturalization applications and fraudulent voter registration.
Separately, the Department of Homeland Security reported that dozens of illegal-alien suspects have admitted to unlawful registration or voting, with at least 18 having voted in a federal election. Those arrested face a range of charges beyond voting violations.