Idaho Secretary of State on Eliminating Non-Citizen Voting

Election Integrity in Idaho

• 💡 Idaho state law requires voters to be documented US citizens, and this requirement has not unduly denied the vote to any lawful citizens.
• 🎯 The Idaho Secretary of State's office recently removed 34 non-citizens from voter rolls by cross-referencing registered voters with data from the Idaho Transportation Department, Idaho State Police, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Verifying Citizenship for Voter Rolls

• 🔑 The process involved running 1.1 million registered voters through verification systems to confirm citizenship, a method used for the first time.
• 🔍 This detailed scrutiny is crucial for maintaining accurate voter rolls, especially in a fast-growing state like Idaho.

Addressing Non-Citizen Voting Concerns

• ⚠️ The speaker believes that non-citizen voting is an issue because any ineligible participation can cancel out a lawful citizen's vote, particularly in close elections.
• 🤝 Successful collaboration with the governor and state law enforcement was key to implementing the "Only Citizens Can Vote Act."

Recommendations for Congress

• 📈 Congress should invest in databases specifically designed for voter verification and review relevant policies.
• 🛠️ Support for agencies like USCIS and initiatives such as the SAVE Act are needed to bolster efforts in accurate voter verification and to ensure citizens are not disenfranchised.
• 🧩 Unique incidents, like those involving the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, highlight the need for better tools to verify citizenship for individuals who became citizens through their parents' naturalization but lack recorded documentation.