Election Fraud Arrests Clash With Democratic Claims of Rarity
Multiple federal indictments against noncitizens for voter fraud highlight a partisan debate over election security measures like the SAVE Act.
Federal authorities have recently brought charges in a series of election-related indictments against noncitizens, a development that stands in contrast to some Democratic assertions that such voting is "extremely rare" or does not occur.
The cases have emerged amidst a contentious debate over the SAVE Act, proposed legislation that would require proof of citizenship for individuals registering to vote in federal elections. Democrats have voiced opposition to the bill, arguing it could disenfranchise eligible voters.
In 2025, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., stated, "Let me be perfectly clear: This is a non-issue. Noncitizens do not vote in U.S. elections." Scanlon partially represents Philadelphia County, where three noncitizens were arrested this month and charged with election-related offenses. Federal authorities also pointed to other cases, including that of Sade Guppy, a national of Trinidad and Tobago, who allegedly voted illegally in the 2022 midterms. Cliff Sanon, an undocumented immigrant from Haiti, was charged with submitting a fraudulent voter registration application prior to the 2026 Pennsylvania primary. Additionally, Mahady Sacko, an undocumented immigrant from Mauritania, is accused of voting in seven federal elections since 2008.
Rep. Chip Roy has highlighted a "software glitch" in New Jersey where approximately 6,600 non-citizens were registered to vote, with hundreds casting ballots. Roy advocates for the Save America Act, emphasizing the need for voter identification, a measure he states is supported by 80% of Americans.
On Wednesday, Attorney General Todd Blanche announced indictments against 10 foreign nationals accused of voter fraud, specifically mentioning cases in Minnesota. He stated that the issue should not be a "partisan concept." The individuals indicted are reportedly from Brazil, Ghana, Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Liberia, and Canada.
Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif., has previously described noncitizen voting as "extremely rare" and characterized the SAVE Act as "anti-voter." Responding to the recent arrests, Padilla stated, "The Department of Justice’s arrest of a dozen people after investigating millions of the 174 million registered voters in America confirms that" illegal voting is rare, but he added that he wished the DOJ would focus on voter registration processing delays instead.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill disclosed over the summer that roughly 400 noncitizens had voted in the state. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated it cannot comment on active investigations but is committed to "rooting out and investigating election fraud wherever it can be found."
A White House spokesperson commented, "Despite the media and Democrats denying it for decades, noncitizens continue to register and vote in federal elections. Only Americans should be electing America’s leaders."
Rep. James Walkinshaw of Fairfax County, Virginia, has also said that noncitizen voting "just doesn’t happen," suggesting it's a tactic related to the "Big Lie."