INTEGRITY OF OHIO ELECTIONS AT RISK
MARY SIEGEL
Guest columnist
Mary Siegel is co-founder and co-leader of the Ohio Voter Integrity Project.
As one of the leaders of Ohio Voter Integrity Project, a nonpartisan voter education and research organization, I disagree with most of the op-ed “Ohio should focus on better voter access” (March 15). But author Sean Wright’s underestimation of the impact of non-citizens voting in our elections is particularly disturbing in light of President Obama’s recent Executive Actions on Immigration.
To date Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, in coordination with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), has discovered 453 non-citizens registered to vote in Ohio. Although this number may seem “miniscule,” it can still affect the outcome of our elections, especially at the local level.
Results from the Ohio November 2013 and May 2014 elections revealed that 63 races tied or were decided by just one vote. This demonstrates that every vote has the potential to determine the outcome of any race or ballot issue.
I believe most people would agree that every case of voter suppression is harmful and should be investigated. Since illegal non-citizen votes negate or suppress the votes of legitimate citizens, non-citizen voting is actually voter suppression and should be considered as damaging as any other form of voter suppression.
Instead, the op-ed minimizes the issue by disregarding the 453 cases as “Republicans’ alarmist” propaganda.
What Wright fails to mention is that 5 million potential new cases of non-citizen voter fraud are waiting at America’s doorstep. President Obama’s 2015 Immigration Order, granting Social Security numbers to approximately 5 million new legally present non-citizens, is the largest single threat to the integrity of today’s elections. While the BMV reports citizenship status to the Secretary of State’s Office based on drivers’ licenses and state identification cards, citizenship information related to Social Security numbers is held by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is not shared with the 50 states. Some states are now trying to pass legislation requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. But for most states, including Ohio, the verification of U.S. citizenship through a Social Security number is not possible.
In response to the dangers of this “expanding loophole,” Husted sent a letter to Obama in January asking for the states to receive access to the names, date of birth and last four digits of Social Security numbers for all non-citizens who receive a Social Security number. On Feb. 12, Husted, along with the secretaries of state from Maine and Kansas, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, reiterating the threat of the President’s Executive Actions on the integrity of state and federal elections. As of today, Obama has not responded to Husted’s request. Federal law mandates that any person who registers to vote must be a U.S. citizen. Providing a name, address, date of birth and citizenship information is neither a “trick” question nor racially biased. Every U.S. citizen regardless of race, religion or political affiliation should be alarmed at the potential for non-citizens to register and vote in our elections without being detected by the system.
If our federal government refuses to support Ohio and all states in their verification of citizenship on voter applications, then our government is promoting voter fraud and destroying our electoral freedoms.
Guest columnist
Mary Siegel is co-founder and co-leader of the Ohio Voter Integrity Project.
As one of the leaders of Ohio Voter Integrity Project, a nonpartisan voter education and research organization, I disagree with most of the op-ed “Ohio should focus on better voter access” (March 15). But author Sean Wright’s underestimation of the impact of non-citizens voting in our elections is particularly disturbing in light of President Obama’s recent Executive Actions on Immigration.
To date Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, in coordination with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), has discovered 453 non-citizens registered to vote in Ohio. Although this number may seem “miniscule,” it can still affect the outcome of our elections, especially at the local level.
Results from the Ohio November 2013 and May 2014 elections revealed that 63 races tied or were decided by just one vote. This demonstrates that every vote has the potential to determine the outcome of any race or ballot issue.
I believe most people would agree that every case of voter suppression is harmful and should be investigated. Since illegal non-citizen votes negate or suppress the votes of legitimate citizens, non-citizen voting is actually voter suppression and should be considered as damaging as any other form of voter suppression.
Instead, the op-ed minimizes the issue by disregarding the 453 cases as “Republicans’ alarmist” propaganda.
What Wright fails to mention is that 5 million potential new cases of non-citizen voter fraud are waiting at America’s doorstep. President Obama’s 2015 Immigration Order, granting Social Security numbers to approximately 5 million new legally present non-citizens, is the largest single threat to the integrity of today’s elections. While the BMV reports citizenship status to the Secretary of State’s Office based on drivers’ licenses and state identification cards, citizenship information related to Social Security numbers is held by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is not shared with the 50 states. Some states are now trying to pass legislation requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. But for most states, including Ohio, the verification of U.S. citizenship through a Social Security number is not possible.
In response to the dangers of this “expanding loophole,” Husted sent a letter to Obama in January asking for the states to receive access to the names, date of birth and last four digits of Social Security numbers for all non-citizens who receive a Social Security number. On Feb. 12, Husted, along with the secretaries of state from Maine and Kansas, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, reiterating the threat of the President’s Executive Actions on the integrity of state and federal elections. As of today, Obama has not responded to Husted’s request. Federal law mandates that any person who registers to vote must be a U.S. citizen. Providing a name, address, date of birth and citizenship information is neither a “trick” question nor racially biased. Every U.S. citizen regardless of race, religion or political affiliation should be alarmed at the potential for non-citizens to register and vote in our elections without being detected by the system.
If our federal government refuses to support Ohio and all states in their verification of citizenship on voter applications, then our government is promoting voter fraud and destroying our electoral freedoms.
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