Federal officials identify 400 noncitizens registered to vote in Washington state: 'Tip of the iceberg'

Federal Agents Identify More Than 400 Noncitizens Registered to Vote in Washington

WASHINGTON – Federal investigators announced on Monday that they have uncovered a list of more than 400 non‑citizens who are registered to vote in Washington state, some of whom have cast ballots in multiple elections as far back as the 1980s. The findings come from a joint effort by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington and raise questions about the integrity of the state’s voter registration system.

According to a statement released by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the investigation was triggered by a review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) records that linked certain individuals to both immigration benefits and voting activity. “We have identified over 400 noncitizens who are registered to vote and have voted in multiple elections,” said Neil Floyd, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District. “This is only the tip of the iceberg.” He added that the DOJ will continue to pursue the matter and “identify those who are committing crimes by voting illegally.”

The 400-plus list includes a significant number of green card holders who, according to the DOJ, were registered to vote without their knowledge through Washington’s Motor Voter program. That program automatically adds residents to the voter rolls when they apply for or renew a driver’s license or state ID card. While the state’s secretary of state website states that only individuals who provide proof of U.S. citizenship are eligible for automatic registration, the DOJ says many permanent residents were added without confirming citizenship status.

“The earliest moment we have is 1984,” Floyd said in an interview. He noted that some of the noncitizen voters had participated in elections as early as the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period when Washington still relied on in‑person voting. In total, the investigation has counted approximately 1,500 instances of noncitizens casting ballots, with some individuals voting as many as 27 times.

The DOJ’s findings are part of a broader national push to address potential voter fraud. In a separate action, federal prosecutors in California have sought to set aside roughly 20,000 mail‑in ballots that were sent to individuals whose citizenship status is in question. The Washington case follows the DOJ’s legal action against Los Angeles County, where it has requested the invalidation of a similar number of ballots.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also reported that dozens of noncitizens have been arrested across the country in connection with a major voter‑fraud crackdown. At least 18 of the suspects admitted to casting ballots in a federal election. The arrested individuals come from a wide array of countries, including Mexico, Somalia, Honduras, Guyana, Cuba, Germany, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Vietnam, El Salvador, Cambodia, Guatemala, Portugal and Italy.

Many of those arrested face serious legal consequences beyond voter fraud. Federal officials say potential criminal charges could include making false statements on naturalization applications, fraudulent voter registration, and other offenses such as counterfeiting, DUI, sexual assault, burglary and drug possession.

The DOJ’s notice to Washington officials urges the state to set aside ballots cast by the identified individuals until their citizenship status can be confirmed. “Washington is now on notice that noncitizens are voting,” the notice read. “It is up to the state to take action to make sure that they are not allowing these noncitizens to vote illegally.”

The Washington state secretary of state’s office has not yet issued a public response to the DOJ’s request. In the meantime, the federal prosecutors are continuing their investigation, with an eye toward identifying additional noncitizen voters that may not have applied for immigration benefits but were registered through other channels.

The DOJ has indicated that the list it compiled represents only a fraction of the possible problem, suggesting that thousands more could be identified if the investigation is expanded. “If you take that population, and you expand it out to include all the people that are here illegally that we haven't had contact with, just my estimation is that it's going to be in the thousands,” Floyd said.

The case raises broader concerns about the intersection of immigration status and civic participation. While the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote to all citizens, the federal government maintains that noncitizens—whether green card holders or otherwise—are prohibited from voting in federal and state elections. Violations can result in removal from the voter rolls and, in some cases, criminal penalties.

As Washington’s election officials weigh the DOJ’s recommendations, voters and political observers are watching closely. Whether the state will move to remove the identified noncitizens from its rolls, or how it will address potential procedural failures in the Motor Voter program, remains to be seen. The DOJ has stated that it will keep investigating and that the findings are only the beginning of a larger effort to safeguard the electoral process from illegal voting.