In small local elections, illegal aliens are already allowed to vote. In larger, statewide elections such as the gubernatorial race, citizenship is verified through an affidavit system—essentially an honor system. Now, California Governor Newsom has signed a bill into law that will allow illegal aliens to oversee elections. The Democratic counterargument is: “No, that’s a myth. This legislation makes elections more secure.”
In July 2018, San Francisco began allowing noncitizens, including those without legal status, to register and vote in local school board elections. The measure, approved by voters in a 2016 referendum, permits only parents, legal guardians, or caregivers of children under 19 to vote in school board races. The program, set to expire after 2022 unless renewed, was justified by supporters who noted that about one-third of children in San Francisco’s public schools have foreign-born parents.
Opponents, including Republican officials, argued that voting should remain an exclusive right of citizens. Newly eligible voters must use a separate registration form warning that their information may be shared with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and advising them to consult an immigration attorney before registering, a requirement that may deter participation. The issue also surfaced in the California governor’s race, drawing national attention and criticism from politicians who said it undermined the principle that only citizens should vote.
Similar initiatives exist in other U.S. municipalities. Takoma Park, Maryland, has allowed noncitizen voting for over two decades, and several neighboring communities have adopted comparable policies. Advocates say these measures give immigrant families a voice in education decisions; however, in the U.S., the right to vote is restricted to citizens, not green card holders and not illegal aliens.
In California, San Francisco remains the only city where noncitizens can currently vote in limited local elections. Proposition N, passed in 2016 with 54 percent support, allows noncitizen parents or caregivers with children in the San Francisco Unified School District to vote in school board elections only. Oakland voters approved a similar measure in 2022 with 67 percent support, but as of late 2024, it had not yet been implemented. Santa Ana voters, however, rejected Measure DD in November 2024, which would have permitted noncitizens to vote in all municipal elections.
Important clarifications: San Francisco’s law applies only to school board elections, and noncitizen voters must complete a separate registration process. Their information is maintained in an entirely separate voter file, there is no mixing with state or federal voter rolls.
For presidential and gubernatorial elections in California, state law limits voting to U.S. citizens, but the system operates entirely on the honor system. Under California Elections Code Section 2111, a person proves citizenship by signing an affidavit of registration under penalty of perjury. In practice, this means voters simply check a box and sign. There is no verification of actual citizenship status.
A Santa Barbara County grand jury investigation confirmed that neither the state nor the counties require proof of citizenship to register. “We uncovered that there’s no requirement to provide proof of citizenship. You just sign off that line in the ballot that informs you of the potentials of felony perjury if you’re not eligible to register to vote,” said grand jury foreman Andrew Brown.
California ID numbers are matched with DMV records, and Social Security Numbers are checked against Social Security Administration records. However, citizenship itself is not verified. The system only confirms that the ID or SSN exists and matches the name and birthdate. It does not determine whether the registrant is actually a U.S. citizen.
California’s voter registration system functions entirely on self-declaration, an “honor system.” Registrants attest under penalty of perjury that they are citizens, but this statement is never cross-checked against any citizenship database. The only verification performed is that their identifying information exists in government systems. These rules apply to all elections in the state, including federal, state, and local races.
Section 2111 defines an affidavit of registration as proof of citizenship for voting purposes, allowing a signed declaration to serve as legal verification. County officials admit that while perjury is a felony, the process effectively depends on the honor system.
Legislative efforts such as AB 25 seek to repeal Section 2111 and require documented proof of citizenship to register. Liberal lawmakers have labeled the bill “Hitler” and “fascist” and, as expected, are dramatically opposed to passing it.
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