Texas officials have identified more than 2,700 registered voters who are not American citizens. According to Secretary of State Jane Nelson, the state’s investigation revealed that 2,724 of Texas’s approximately 18 million voters are noncitizens. This information was shared with local counties last week, prompting investigations into the eligibility of these voters.
As noncitizens are prohibited from participating in federal, state, and most local elections in Texas, the state has referred the matter to the attorney general’s office for further action. Nelson emphasized the importance of safeguarding voting rights, stating, “Everyone’s right to vote is sacred and must be protected.” She encouraged counties to conduct thorough investigations into the eligibility of the voters identified.
Under Texas law, county voter registrars are mandated to notify individuals classified as noncitizens before their registrations can be canceled. These individuals have 30 days to respond before their registrations are formally annulled. The state has compared its voter registration list against a federal government database, which Nelson described as a “critically important” resource. Texas was among the first states to collaborate with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to utilize the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements data.
Nelson remarked on the significance of this partnership, saying, “The Trump Administration’s decision to give states free and direct access to this data set for the first time has been a major development.” She highlighted its role in verifying voter citizenship and maintaining accurate voter lists.
The decision to cancel voter registrations has raised concerns among some lawmakers. Earlier this year, most U.S. House Democrats opposed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. This legislation aims to remove noncitizens from voter lists and requires proof of citizenship during federal election registrations, despite existing prohibitions against noncitizen voting.
In response to the SAVE Act, the Texas Democratic Party criticized the bill as part of a broader pattern of regressive politics aimed at restricting voting rights. Party Chairman Kendall Scudder stated, “We’re no strangers to attempts to undermine the right to vote.” He argued that millions of Americans could be adversely affected if the SAVE Act becomes law, asserting, “We’ve worked hard to make it easier for working folks to legally cast their ballots, not more difficult.”
The situation in Texas reflects ongoing national discussions around voting rights and election integrity. As investigations continue into the identified noncitizen voters, the implications of these findings could resonate beyond state lines, influencing future legislative actions and voter registration processes across the country.
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