ACLJ Files 20 Public Records Demands To Take On Noncitizen Voting

It started with an investigation in Cheverly, Maryland.

After obtaining a supplemental voter registry through a public records fight, the ACLJ reviewed the names against publicly available voter data. What we found was deeply concerning: at least 25% of the names on the town’s so-called “Non-citizen” Voter Registry appeared to match individuals who had voted in federal or statewide elections between 2020 and 2024. We have since sent a referral letter to the DOJ on this matter. You can read about our progress in that case here.

These findings raised a much bigger concern: If this is happening in one Maryland town, what is happening in other jurisdictions that have adopted similar policies allowing noncitizens to register and vote in local elections?

We are now expanding our investigation.

The ACLJ is filing 20 public records requests in multiple municipal jurisdictions across Maryland, California, and Vermont. We are seeking voter registration records and documents showing how these local noncitizen voting policies are being implemented. We want to know how these local registries are maintained, what safeguards are in place, and whether noncitizen registrations are being kept separate from elections in which citizenship is required.

We are also seeking records from New Jersey election officials concerning a reported software error that improperly registered thousands of individuals who had indicated they were not U.S. citizens. We want to know how this happened, how many people were affected, whether any improperly registered individuals voted, and what steps officials took to correct the problem.

The Cheverly investigation showed why we cannot simply take election officials at their word that everything is operating as it should. We’ll examine the records, ask the hard questions, and hold government officials accountable.

And when government officials refuse to provide answers, we’ll take legal action, as we have in California after its DOJ failed to fully respond to our FOIA, stating it has no records containing or addressing “‘policies’ that are specific to handling ‘investigative referrals for illegal voting.’” We have since filed a lawsuit against California’s Department of Justice for withholding records concerning voter registration accuracy, illegal voting investigations, and referrals, seeking transparency and accountability in California’s election oversight.

The integrity of our elections is fundamental to our constitutional republic. Every eligible vote must count, and our election systems must be protected against improper registration and unlawful voting abuses.

Take action with us. Sign our petition: Defend Election Integrity and the Constitution.