Former President Donald Trump and his supporters have focused on an unsubstantiated claim that Democrats are encouraging newly-arrived migrants to vote for them in the upcoming 2024 election, although no evidence supports this assertion. Alleging such a plot remains unsupported, and it is both illegal and extremely rare for noncitizens to vote in federal elections.
This issue was discussed on NPR, where host Scott Detrow explored how Trump might contest the election results if they are not favorable to him. NPR’s voting correspondent Miles Parks and reporter Jude Joffe-Block joined the discussion, emphasizing how this myth about noncitizens voting has resurfaced with particular intensity this year. This narrative has been a recurring element in American politics since the 1800s, resurfacing especially during periods of increased nonwhite immigration due to concerns about the potential impact on the country.
Lisa Tollefson, who oversees elections in Rock County, Wisconsin, noted that she first encountered questions about this claim during poll worker training sessions in the summer, highlighting how such misinformation can gain traction when influential voices reinforce it. Parks pointed out that Trump has reiterated this falsehood over the years, and more Republican officials at various government levels have also endorsed it, making it a top legislative concern for congressional Republicans.
Joffe-Block added that this narrative has been heavily circulated in conservative media and amplified on social media, particularly by Elon Musk. This has contributed to a proliferation of false information suggesting widespread noncitizen voting. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll showed that 52% of voters expressed concern about noncitizens voting in elections, with the figure rising to 81% among Republican voters. Despite these concerns, studies and audits indicate that noncitizen voting is notably rare due to the significant legal consequences.
Miles Parks highlighted the potential consequences of this rhetoric, noting that it could discourage participation among voters of color and naturalized citizens or lead to challenging interactions at polling stations. Joseph Kirk, the lead election official in Georgia’s Bartow County, expressed concerns about the possible negative impact of this narrative.
The discussion also addressed how conservative groups have taken actions targeting state voter rolls, risking the disenfranchisement of legitimate U.S. citizens. Legal actions filed by Trump-aligned groups in various states over allegations of noncitizen voters could potentially influence post-election challenges if Trump does not win.
The segment concluded with thanks from Scott Detrow to both Miles Parks and Jude Joffe-Block.
