DOJ Uncovers Hundreds of Noncitizens on Voter Rolls

Federal investigators have identified more than 400 noncitizens registered to vote in Washington state, raising new concerns about election safeguards and the procedures used to verify voter eligibility. The Justice Department announced the findings this week, reporting that some of the individuals had participated in multiple elections over several decades.

Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd said investigators uncovered approximately 1,500 instances of ballots reportedly cast by noncitizens. According to federal officials, some individuals voted only a handful of times, while others participated in as many as 27 elections. The findings have prompted calls for greater scrutiny of Washington’s voter registration system.

Federal prosecutors described the investigation as an ongoing effort to identify potential violations of election laws. Floyd suggested that the number of individuals discovered so far could represent only a small portion of a larger problem involving ineligible voters.

“This is only the tip of the iceberg,” Floyd warned in a statement announcing the findings.

The investigation involved cooperation between federal prosecutors and immigration authorities, who examined records maintained by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Investigators compared immigration information with voter registration and election participation records.

Officials said many of the individuals identified were lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders. Although these individuals are authorized to live and work in the United States, they generally cannot vote in federal elections unless they become naturalized citizens.

According to Floyd, investigators discovered voting activity stretching back several decades, including elections held before Washington adopted its current widespread vote-by-mail system.

Some records reportedly date to the late 1980s and early 1990s, suggesting that potential registration problems existed long before recent debates surrounding mail-in ballots.

Federal authorities also raised concerns about Washington’s Motor Voter program, which connects voter registration services with the state’s Department of Licensing.

Investigators said some permanent residents may have been added to voter rolls without understanding that they were ineligible. Those individuals subsequently received election ballots, potentially creating confusion about their legal voting status.

However, Washington’s secretary of state maintains that automatic voter registration requires applicants to establish U.S. citizenship when obtaining certain driver’s licenses or identification cards.

The Justice Department is now examining how the identified registrations occurred and whether administrative errors, inaccurate information or deliberate misconduct contributed to the problem.

Federal prosecutors have requested that Washington officials separate ballots associated with the identified individuals until their eligibility can be verified.

“Washington is now on notice that noncitizens are voting,” federal officials stated, urging state authorities to address the findings.

The Washington investigation follows a separate federal dispute in California, where Justice Department officials have questioned approximately 20,000 mail-in ballots associated with individuals whose citizenship status is disputed.

Floyd also suggested that the Washington investigation’s scope was limited because investigators initially examined people who had interacted with specific government benefit programs. He estimated that a broader review could potentially identify thousands of additional cases, although that projection has not been independently established.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security reported arrests involving dozens of noncitizens suspected of election-related violations nationwide. Officials said at least 18 of those arrested had participated in federal elections, while some suspects faced additional allegations involving unrelated criminal offenses.

Federal officials emphasized that unlawful voting can carry criminal and immigration consequences, particularly for permanent residents seeking citizenship. The investigation remains ongoing, and the government has not established that every questionable registration involved intentional wrongdoing or that the identified ballots altered any election outcome.