Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, recently announced results from a thorough audit of the state's voter rolls, and the figures might surprise some who have been swept up by the chatter of widespread noncitizen voting. According to the audit, only 20 out of the staggering 8.2 million registered voters were identified as noncitizens. This equates to roughly one noncitizen for every 400,000 registered voters – numbers starkly at odds with claims made by some political figures about rampant fraud.
During the press conference, Raffensperger noted, "There is no proof of this overwhelming number of noncitizens on the rolls." His findings emphatically dismantle assertions frequently voiced by former President Donald Trump and others who have maintained there is significant voting by noncitizens. Trump has been vocal about his belief, often stating at rallies and debates, "Our elections are bad," and insinuates noncitizens are havens for electoral malpractice.
The noncitizens discovered—who reside across seven different Georgia counties—had initially declared their noncitizen status on the sworn affidavits they submitted to escape jury duty, raising questions about how these few ended up on the voter rolls at all. The audit revealed none of these individuals had participated in the upcoming general election, with only nine having voted previously. The remaining eleven had never cast ballots, underscoring how rare the issue of noncitizen voting actually is.
Beyond these 20 individuals, the audit also flagged another 156 registrations for what officials called "human investigation." These cases are now under closer scrutiny to determine their accuracy and validity, but they continue to reflect the overall rarity of noncitizen registrations among Georgia voters.
Gabriel Sterling, the Chief Operating Officer for the Secretary of State's office, echoed Raffensperger’s sentiments, emphasizing the audit's conclusion: total numbers of noncitizens on voting rolls are exceedingly rare. He explained, "If you’re not a citizen and you’re on some path to legal residency, trying to register is highly risky; the payoff for one vote just doesn’t warrant it."
Sterling also pushed back against claims surrounding voting machine irregularities. Recently, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene insinuated during interviews and on social media platforms, without evidence, about machines flipping votes. The COO staunchly replied, stating there's not only no evidence of such phenomena occurring but also remarked, "This is purely misinformation. It’s troubling to see these claims made without basis."
The investigations and the ensuing measures highlight the proactive steps Georgia's election officials are taking to uphold the integrity of elections, especially with the 2024 presidential election looming. The audit's results have garnered unyielding support from officials, with Raffensperger firmly stating, "Georgia has the cleanest voter list in the entire country," claiming this audit affirms the state's commitment to electoral integrity.
This situation isn't just local; it forms part of broader political narratives leading up to the upcoming elections, which have become highly charged environments where claims of voter fraud are often weaponized for political gain.
For many Georgians, especially those weary of the drumbeat of misinformation around voting, the findings from the audit may serve as reassurance. There is little concern for future elections being compromised by the claims of rampant noncitizen voting, which have now been debunked by cold, hard numbers. Election officials across the nation echo similar sentiments, consistently maintaining noncitizen voting is virtually non-existent.
Yet, with tensions rising and accusations becoming fuel for political campaigns, ensuring clear communication and trust among voters remains imperative. Gabriel Sterling's perspectives on public misunderstandings highlight this challenge. He remarked, "Voting equipment does falter occasionally, but attributing systemic issues to them undermines faith in our democratic processes." The upcoming elections will test not only Georgia's system but its voter’s faith in the integrity of their votes.
