Nevada Lawmakers Show Little Concern Over Noncitizen Voting

As Nevada prepares for the upcoming 2024 elections, concerns over illegal voting by noncitizens have resurfaced, prompting local officials to address election integrity in a state that has been a flashpoint for national voting debates. With reports claiming that between 1.5 and 2.7 million illegal immigrants could cast ballots nationwide this election season, Nevadans are keeping a close watch on how these issues could affect the state’s closely watched races.

A 2014 study cited by experts at the Election Integrity Network suggested that 6.4 percent of noncitizens voted in the 2008 elections. With an estimated 24 million noncitizens residing in the U.S., that percentage today represents as many as 1.5 million votes.

Kerri Toloczko, executive director of the Election Integrity Network, noted that rising activity among noncitizens at state DMVs and voter registration efforts by activists have pushed that number even higher.

In Nevada, where election integrity has been a hot topic, the potential impact of unlawful votes has fueled conversations about how the state can protect its elections. Although federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting, Toloczko and other experts argue that the threat remains, with mistakes or intentional violations occurring despite safeguards.

The ripple effect of illegal immigration also impacts Nevada in other ways.

A study from the Center for Immigration Studies highlighted how noncitizens counted in the U.S. Census shifted congressional seats, influencing Electoral College votes. Nevada’s growing immigrant population and proximity to states like California and Arizona places it in a crucial position for the 2024 elections.

Meanwhile, Nevada’s federal lawmakers are working to implement new measures to strengthen voter eligibility checks. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in July, would have had significant implications for states like Nevada by requiring local election officials to verify U.S. citizenship before registering voters. However, the bill failed to pass, with 14 Republicans and 209 Democrats voting no.