SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — Former President Donald Trump recently alleged that illegal immigrant voting is widespread in the upcoming 2024 election. His claims have raised questions about the integrity of voter registration processes.
In the U.S., all states are required to use a standard voter registration form that asks individuals to confirm they are U.S. citizens under penalty of perjury. However, the form does not require documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration.
Shasta County Registrar of Voters, Tom Toller, confirmed that U.S. citizenship is required to vote, but he noted that proof of citizenship is not always verified. When asked about voter identification requirements at the polls, Toller explained that ID is not typically requested. Voters are only required to show identification if they fail to provide a birthdate or Social Security number during registration for a federal election. In most cases, poll workers are prohibited from asking for any form of identification.
“We’re not allowed to ask for identification,” Toller said. “If people try to show us their driver’s license, we tell them, ‘I’m sure you have a very nice picture, but we’re not going to look at that.’ It’s not required, and we don’t do it.”
While Toller affirmed that U.S. citizenship is required to vote, he could not definitively rule out the possibility of illegal immigrants exploiting any loopholes in the voting system.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 explicitly prohibits illegal immigrants from voting in federal elections, with penalties including up to one year in prison, fines, and possible deportation.
In California, voters must be U.S. citizens to participate in elections, though there is a significant exception. The city of Santa Ana in Southern California is considering allowing illegal immigrants to vote in the upcoming election, potentially making it the first place in the state to do so.
California, along with several other states such as Maryland, Vermont, and Washington D.C., allows illegal immigrants to vote in certain local elections, including school board races. These jurisdictions continue to test the boundaries of voter eligibility for non-citizens.
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