Voters in five states overwhelmingly approved ballot measures barring noncitizens from voting in state and local elections. Kansas, Alaska, Arkansas, South Dakota, and West Virginia all saw support exceeding 60% for these measures.
Federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections, but these state-level initiatives clarify or explicitly codify citizenship requirements.
Election integrity advocates view these results as evidence of broad support for requiring proof of citizenship in voter registration. Jason Snead, Executive Director of the Honest Elections Project, stated that noncitizen voting bans enjoy bipartisan support. A 2024 Gallup poll indicated that 83% of Americans, including 66% of Democrats, favor requiring first-time voters to provide proof of citizenship.
These ballot measure wins come as the Supreme Court prepares to consider a dispute over whether Arizona can require proof of citizenship on its state voter registration form and remove suspected noncitizens from voter rolls. A ruling in this case could impact how states enforce citizenship requirements.
In contrast, related measures failed in California and Arizona. California's Proposition 39, which would have required voter ID and additional citizenship-verification procedures, was defeated. Snead attributed this to California's political climate and significant opposition funding.
The successful noncitizen voting bans follow previous efforts by Republicans, including the failed SAVE America Act, which aimed to mandate proof of citizenship for federal voter registration.
Hans von Spakovsky, a former member of the Federal Election Commission, commented that the Democratic Party appears disconnected from voter sentiment on this issue, calling it a "90-10 issue" that has become highly politicized. Snead echoed this, questioning why Democrats oppose a measure favored by a vast majority of the public.
However, von Spakovsky cautioned that the effectiveness of these state-level bans may depend on states' ability to verify voters' citizenship. He pointed to the Supreme Court case concerning Arizona's right to demand documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and for removing suspected noncitizens from voter rolls.
Snead expressed concern that proposed legislation could defund or restrict access to the SAVE database, a tool used by states to verify voter eligibility. He suggested that Democrats might actively work against measures supporting citizen-only voting.
Recent arrests for illegal voting and issues with voter registration systems, such as in New Jersey where noncitizens were added to voter rolls and some voted, highlight concerns about the current verification processes. Snead noted that the "check-a-box" system for attesting to citizenship has proven insufficient.