It looks like Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen is taking matters into his own hands, and frankly, it’s about time someone did. After all, how many times have we heard that noncitizens voting in our elections is just a “conspiracy theory”? Yet here we are, with over 3,000 potential noncitizens registered to vote in Alabama. Yes, you read that right—thousands. And Allen’s office isn’t just sitting on this information; they’re taking swift action to clean up the voter rolls.
Allen, who’s been in office since January 2023, is making it clear that he’s not about to let noncitizens play a part in Alabama’s elections. According to a recent press release, his office found 3,251 registered voters with noncitizen ID numbers issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Allen’s directive to local election officials? Inactivate those registrations and start the process of removing these individuals from the voter file.
Allen’s team has worked with other state agencies to cross-reference these noncitizen identification numbers against voter registrations. His office is determined to ensure that everyone on Alabama’s voter rolls is a U.S. citizen, and they’re not letting up anytime soon.
Some of these folks may have become U.S. citizens after originally receiving their noncitizen ID numbers, and that’s something Allen’s office is also addressing. Those who’ve since gained citizenship can update their voter registration with an Alabama driver’s license number, a non-driver ID, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. But make no mistake, Allen isn’t about to let potential noncitizens slip through the cracks.
Of course, you might wonder why this hasn’t been handled sooner. According to the press release, the federal government has denied multiple requests to assist in this investigation. Yes, the government that should safeguard our elections is dragging its feet. Allen contacted the DHS’s Citizenship and Immigration Services division in November 2023, asking for a list of noncitizens living in Alabama to cross-check with the state voter file. And what did he get? A big, fat “no.”
When the federal government wouldn’t step up, Allen took matters into his own hands. And let’s be honest, can you blame him? He’s made it clear that his office is committed to protecting the integrity of Alabama’s elections, even if Washington wants to play politics.
Allen’s office isn’t stopping with this one review, either. They’re sending the flagged registrations to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall for further investigation and potential criminal prosecution. And let’s say Allen isn’t making this a one-and-done deal. His office will continue to review the voter file to ensure that every single registered voter is, in fact, eligible to vote.
The sad truth is that the federal government has made it harder for states to require proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration. Thanks to federal mandates and executive orders, state agencies have been pressured to expand voter registration, even sending forms to noncitizens. That’s right, President Joe Biden’s administration, with its so-called “Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting,” has even been registering voters in federal prisons, including noncitizens.
But despite the federal overreach, Allen is fighting back. He’s directed local boards of registrars to require proof of citizenship; whether it’s an Alabama driver’s license number, non-driver ID, or Social Security number when registering voters. And he’s demanding answers from state and federal agencies about how they plan to prevent noncitizens from registering to vote in Alabama.
Allen’s commitment to safeguarding Alabama’s elections starkly contrasts the chaos in other states. Take Tennessee, for example. Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office recently sent letters to over 14,000 potential noncitizens, demanding they update their voter registration information or request removal from the voter rolls. Even so, the ACLU couldn’t resist threatening legal action.
So, while some states are still playing catch-up, under Wes Allen’s leadership, Alabama is taking the bull by the horns. It’s about time someone did. The integrity of our elections depends on it.
