The Department of Justice sent letters Tuesday to at least 10 states warning that election officials could face criminal prosecution if noncitizens are allowed to remain on voter rolls or if ballots cast by noncitizens are counted in upcoming elections.
The seven-page letters, signed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, outline federal laws prohibiting noncitizens from voting and state that election officials who knowingly retain noncitizens on voter registration lists or facilitate their voting could be held criminally liable.
The DOJ directed states to respond within five days, detailing how they plan to comply with federal election laws and maintain accurate voter rolls.
At least 11 states, including Utah, confirmed receiving the letters. It remains unclear whether every state received the notice or only those that have not complied with the DOJ’s requests to provide unredacted voter registration records as part of its effort to enforce federal voter roll maintenance requirements.
