1. Voter Registration Forms: Federal law requires that voter registration forms explicitly ask applicants to confirm their U.S. citizenship under penalty of perjury. This self-attestation is significant because falsely claiming citizenship on these forms is a federal crime that carries penalties, including fines and possible deportation for noncitizens.
2. Database Verification: Many states cross-check voter information against databases, like the Social Security Administration and DMV records, to verify identity. Additionally, some states use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to confirm citizenship status before finalizing registration.
3. Motor Voter Law Protections: The National Voter Registration Act mandates that public assistance and DMV offices provide voter registration options, but only for citizens. The process includes clear reminders and requires that only those eligible register to vote, with oversight by state election authorities to catch errors or cases of ineligible registration attempts.
4. State-Level Protections: States like Georgia and South Carolina have conducted audits to identify any noncitizens attempting to register. Findings indicate that cases of noncitizens mistakenly attempting to register are extremely rare and often stem from unintentional errors rather than attempts at fraud.
Sources Brennan Center, Houston Chronicle, Bipartisan Policy Center.