Alabama finds over 3,200 apparent noncitizens registered to vote in the state

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen announced in a Tuesday press release that 3,251 voters who have previously been identified as noncitizens by the federal government will be removed in an election integrity effort. “This is not a one-time review of our voter file. We will continue to conduct such reviews to do everything possible to make sure that everyone on our file is an eligible voter,” Allen said.

Secretary Allen cross-checked alien registration numbers issued by the Department of Homeland Security with the Alabama voter registration lists in order to identify those who have been marked as noncitizens in the US, according to WVTM. He added that he would give a list to the Attorney General’s Office for “further investigation and possible criminal prosecution" if necessary. Alien registration numbers are given to those noncitizens who intend to live in the US permanently and have applied for a green card, according to WAFF.

More than 3,200 people in Alabama will get letters in the mail, telling them that in the upcoming election, they will have to provide proof of citizenship to vote. Allen said that those who may have become naturalized citizens will have the opportunity to update their voter registration.

Republicans have been pushing for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act for months before the elections amid the ongoing crisis of illegal immigration at the southern border. The bill would require proof of citizenship nationally in order to register to vote. Democrats have opposed the act, claiming that laws deeming it illegal to vote as a noncitizen is enough security for elections.