Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita have jointly requested the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCIS) to verify the citizenship status of over 550,000 registered voters in Indiana prior to the upcoming November election.
In a recent letter sent by Morales and Rokita to the office, they emphasized the importance of verifying the citizenship status of these individuals in order to restore confidence in the integrity of the state’s elections.
In their letter, they mention that they are seeking verification for 585,774 individuals falling under the following categories:
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- Registered Indiana voters who registered without providing a driver’s license number or social security number
- Registered Indiana voters located overseas
- Registered Indiana voters who registered to vote without providing a driver’s license number.
Voter registration for this specific election in the state of Indiana concluded on October 7th.
Morales and Rokita emphasized the importance of federal and state law, highlighting that Indiana law strictly prohibits non-citizens from participating in voting. They also pointed out that under federal law, the state is obligated to conduct regular list maintenance on its voter registration list, which includes removing individuals who are not eligible to vote from the voting roles.
The letter states that there is currently no definitive way to verify the citizenship of all Indiana voters according to the law. Therefore, they are aiming to utilize all available resources to confirm the citizenship of voters and safeguard the integrity of the state’s voter registration system.
According to the letter, UCIS is said to be obligated to answer an inquiry made by a state government agency regarding the citizenship or immigration status of individuals within the agency’s jurisdiction.
“The letter concludes by reminding readers that the last day to register to vote in Indiana was October 7. With Election Day just over three weeks away, the integrity of Indiana’s voter rolls becomes crucial at this critical juncture in the election cycle. Safeguarding the right to vote is essential as it not only preserves other fundamental civil and political rights but also ensures that only eligible voters participate in the elections. It is vital that Hoosiers have confidence that their votes will not be diluted or distorted by non-citizens casting ballots.”
According to Morales, ensuring a “fair and secure election” hinges on having precise voter information.
“As the Chief Election Officer of Indiana, my utmost priority is to ensure that all registered voters in the state meet the necessary legal requirements, which includes being a U.S. citizen,” Morales asserted. “I am proud to collaborate with Indiana’s Attorney General in proactively acquiring the missing information from individuals who have completed their registration without a state-issued ID. This step is essential in upholding the integrity of our elections and bolstering public confidence. It is important to note that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in Indiana.”
According to Rokita, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that only eligible voters are participating in our elections and that legitimate ballots are not being diluted by noncitizens.
Rokita emphasized that they are actively contributing to ensuring this guarantee.
Early voting has officially commenced in Indiana, allowing Marion County voters to cast their ballots at various locations, including the Indianapolis City-County Building, beginning on October 26. For more detailed information on voting locations, you can click here.
