Nevada Election Integrity: Audit Confirms Minimal Noncitizen Voting
In a comprehensive audit released in 2017, it was revealed that only three noncitizens voted in Nevada’s 2016 election. This finding comes amidst ongoing discussions about noncitizen voting, particularly following claims that thousands of noncitizens were registered to vote in the 2020 elections.
The Nevada Secretary of State further addressed these concerns by examining data from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The analysis showed that less than 5% of individuals who used immigration documents to obtain state-issued IDs over the past five years had any record of voting. Importantly, officials suggested it was plausible that these individuals had subsequently become naturalized citizens before participating in the electoral process.
It is crucial to understand that state and federal laws in Nevada stipulate that a person’s affirmation of citizenship is sufficient for voter registration. Voting as a noncitizen is classified as a felony under Nevada law, underscoring the seriousness of maintaining election integrity.
Additionally, a survey conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice, which analyzed elections across 42 counties—including Nevada—reported an exceedingly low incidence of suspected noncitizen voting. Their findings indicated that only 0.0001% of the votes cast in 2016 raised concerns about noncitizen participation.
These findings collectively suggest that fears surrounding noncitizen voting may be overstated, as the evidence points to a very limited occurrence in Nevada’s elections. As the conversation around election integrity continues, such audits and studies provide valuable insights into the actual state of voter registration and participation in the state.
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