A recent examination of Iowa’s voter rolls revealed that 35 individuals who are not U.S. citizens participated in the 2024 general election, out of more than 1.6 million voters in the state. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced that his office also uncovered 277 noncitizens who were registered to vote, a small fraction of the total 2.3 million registered voters in Iowa. Voting by non-U.S. citizens is illegal in federal elections, and there is little evidence to suggest it is a widespread issue. State reviews, like the one in Iowa, demonstrate that noncitizen voter registration and participation are rare occurrences. Pate stressed the importance of upholding election integrity and stated that any instance of noncitizens voting illegally is unacceptable. The matter will be referred to the state Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General for further investigation and possible prosecution.
These findings represent a significant decrease from the initial figure of 2,176 individuals identified by Pate’s office last year, shortly before the November election. The comparison of voter rolls with self-reported noncitizen information from the Iowa Department of Transportation led to this discovery. Pate’s office now has access to federal immigration records, providing a more accurate source of information. Legal challenges arose in response to Pate’s actions, with a federal judge ultimately allowing the state to proceed with efforts to address potential voter fraud involving noncitizens.
The review also revealed that five noncitizens cast ballots that were later rejected by county review boards. The issue of noncitizen voting has been a focal point for Republican figures nationally, with former President Donald Trump alleging, without substantiation, that Democrats are facilitating illegal immigration to bolster voter registration. Iowa’s voter registration process includes a citizenship inquiry and requires a signed affirmation of citizenship, with severe penalties outlined for providing false information.
