Georgia's Republican Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, revealed that a review of the state's millions of registered voters uncovered just 20 noncitizens who were registered to vote. These individuals have since been removed from the voter rolls, which total 8.2 million, and have been referred to local law enforcement for further action.
Raffensperger emphasized Georgia's commitment to preventing noncitizen voting, stating that the state serves as a model in this regard. He stressed the importance of remaining vigilant to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Among the 20 noncitizens identified, nine had previously cast votes, while eleven had not. This discovery highlights the rarity of noncitizens attempting to register to vote, as it is illegal in federal elections and carries the risk of incarceration or deportation for those who engage in such activities.
Despite the minimal number of noncitizen voters found, former President Donald Trump and his conservative allies have raised concerns about the issue, alleging that Democrats may be exploiting noncitizens to influence election outcomes.
However, Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating officer in the Georgia Secretary of State's office, dismissed these claims, stating that there is no substantial evidence to support the notion of a widespread problem with noncitizen voting. He explained that attempting to register to vote as a noncitizen poses significant risks with little to no reward.
In addition to the 20 noncitizens removed from the voter rolls, Raffensperger's office has initiated investigations into 156 individuals whose citizenship status requires further scrutiny. These efforts underscore Georgia's ongoing commitment to ensuring the integrity and legality of its electoral processes.
