The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a significant finding on Monday: investigators have identified more than 400 noncitizens who are illegally registered to vote in Washington state. Some of these individuals have participated in multiple elections over the years. Many listed are green card holders with legal immigration status and permanent residency, according to information from the U.S. attorney’s offices in Washington’s Eastern and Western districts.
Neil Floyd, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, stated, “We have identified over 400 noncitizens who are registered to vote and have voted in multiple elections. This represents only the tip of the iceberg.” He added that the investigation will continue to unveil those voting illegally.
In a related move, the DOJ has previously taken legal steps against Los Angeles County to set aside approximately 20,000 mail-in ballots sent to individuals with unclear citizenship status. Immigration officials reported to Fox News Digital that arrests have been made nationwide in this voter fraud crackdown.
Investigators reviewed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) records to identify noncitizen voters. Some individuals were found to have voted once or three times in past elections, while others voted up to 27 times. Floyd noted the earliest instance they have dates back to 1984, predating Washington’s adoption of a mail-voting system. Despite these findings, Floyd has not verified whether any individuals voted in upcoming midterms to avoid interfering with the current election process.
The identified noncitizen voters might only reflect a small portion of the total population, as these are primarily individuals who applied for specific benefits in Washington. Floyd estimated the actual number could be higher if expanded beyond the known list.
Federal authorities pointed out that many green card holders were unknowingly registered to vote via Washington’s Motor Voter program. This program integrates voter registration with the state’s Department of Licensing. Some green card holders received ballots by mail, mistakenly believing they were legally registered voters, which they were not.
Washington’s secretary of state’s website clarifies that only individuals who provide U.S. citizenship proof during driver’s license or ID card registration can be automatically registered to vote. This federal intervention has prompted a review of voter registration patterns and failures. Officials have urged the state to set aside affected ballots until citizenship status confirmation.
There are serious implications for noncitizens voting illegally, affecting those applying for U.S. citizenship. Potential legal consequences include criminal charges for false statements in naturalization applications and fraudulent voter registration.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported to Fox News Digital about illegal aliens admitting to unlawful voter registration or voting in U.S. elections. Among those arrested, at least 18 individuals had voted in federal elections. They originate from countries such as Mexico, Somalia, Honduras, Guyana, and others.
In addition to voter fraud, many face charges for various alleged crimes, including counterfeiting, fraud, kidnapping, sexual offenses, and more. This ongoing investigation continues to address the complex issue of illegal voting practices in the U.S.