Missouri's top elections official raises concerns about non-citizens voting

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – This will be the first presidential election in Missouri with new voter laws on photo ID and early voting.

Despite new and stricter laws, the state's top elections official raises concerns about election interference. While Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is confident in the election, he has concerns about non-citizens voting.

“I think we should always be worried. Elections are fundamental,” Ashcroft said.

Non-citizen voting was a hot topic in the state legislature this year. Discussions over whether to ban it have kept the Missouri Senate in suspense several times due to several bills introduced by Republican lawmakers. Democratic lawmakers said the discussions were pointless because non-citizens couldn't vote.

“It is [possible] because of the federal government and also because our state legislature requires us to approve the federal registration form. But the federal registration form does not require proof of citizenship.”

The Secretary of State's website describes state and federal election laws. The first law clearly states that you must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Missouri to register to vote.

Research from the Brennan Center shows that there were about 30 cases across the country of would-be non-citizens who tried to vote in the last presidential election, but they were found and thrown out. The study says that voting by non-citizens has no influence on federal elections.

Former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Mike Wolff said claims like these often come up in election-related contexts.

“There are no gaps,” said Wolff. “You have to be a registered voter. To be a registered voter you have to be a citizen.”

To his knowledge, Wolff said there are no documented cases of non-citizen voting in Missouri.

“I don’t see that this has anything to do other than wake people up and say: Well, we have to protect ourselves from these undocumented people,” Wolff said.

In November, Missourians will vote on whether to add a provision to the Missouri Constitution that specifically prohibits noncitizens from voting. There was a legal challenge to the question on the grounds that it is illegal for non-citizens to vote, but the court kept the question on the ballot.

The question appears on the ballot as follows:

“Shall the Constitution of Missouri be amended as follows:

Ensure that the Constitution is consistent with state law by allowing only United States citizens to vote.

• Ban candidate ranking by limiting voters to a single vote per candidate or issue
• Should the plurality winner of a political party primary be the sole candidate in a general election?

State and local government agencies do not estimate costs or savings.”

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