Illegal voting by noncitizens is rare, yet Republicans are making it a major issue this election

Federal law already allows only U.S. citizens to vote in elections for president and Congress. Yet Republicans are raising concerns about the potential for noncitizens voting in this year's elections. GOP officials have undertaken reviews of voter roll reviews, issued executive orders and placed constitutional amendments on state ballots as part of an emphasis on thwarting noncitizen voting. Some Democrats contend it's all unnecessary and could create hurdles for legal voters. Data from some states indicates that noncitizen voting is rare. But it's allowed in certain local elections by a few municipalities in California, Maryland and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia.