DOJ Issues Warning to State Election Officials Regarding Noncitizen Voting

Why it matters locally: Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows would be among the state election officials required to respond to the Department of Justice's directive, detailing the state's procedures to prevent non-citizens from voting in federal elections.

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has communicated to more than a dozen state election officials, indicating that casting of a single noncitizen vote in their respective states could result in arrests. The DOJ issued a letter, giving these officials a five-day period to provide specifics on how they plan to comply with existing laws concerning noncitizens participating in elections. Jessica Huseman of Votebeat obtained the letter and discussed its contents. The communication from the DOJ outlined the federal government's position on preventing noncitizen suffrage. The directive from the Department of Justice mandates that state election administrators detail the procedures and safeguards they have in place to prevent individuals who are not U.S. citizens from registering or casting ballots in federal elections. Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in elections for federal offices. States are responsible for maintaining voter rolls and implementing election procedures in line with these statutes. The DOJ's letter emphasizes the potential legal consequences for state officials should these laws be violated.