Republicans in eight states are pushing for constitutional amendments that would clarify that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections, despite it already being illegal for noncitizens to vote. This initiative, backed by Republican lawmakers, has been criticized by election experts as part of a larger effort to perpetuate the false narrative that noncitizens are voting in large numbers, fueling fear and misconceptions about the electoral process. Critics argue that these amendments are a way to legitimize baseless claims about noncitizen voting, such as those made by former President Trump and the GOP.
While current laws and state constitutions already prohibit noncitizens from voting, these amendments seek to explicitly state that only citizens are allowed to vote. Supporters of the amendments argue that they are necessary to further safeguard elections and ensure that only citizens have the right to vote. However, experts point out that these measures are addressing a problem that is largely nonexistent, leading to doubts about the legitimacy of the electoral system.
The efforts to pass these amendments come amid a heated political climate, with GOP officials emphasizing the importance of election integrity and voter turnout. While some claim that the amendments could help drive Republican turnout by highlighting an issue important to the party base, critics warn that they could also sow doubt about the electoral process and potentially undermine the results of future elections. Despite the lack of evidence supporting widespread noncitizen voting, supporters of the amendments argue that they are necessary to maintain trust in the election process.
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