Federal prosecutors say an investigation identified 405 suspected noncitizens who participated in Washington state elections, allegedly casting more than 1,500 ballots, while state election officials dispute the findings and say their review has identified U.S. citizens among those flagged.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
SEATTLE — The Justice Department announced Monday that federal investigators identified 405 people suspected of illegally voting in Washington state elections despite lacking U.S. citizenship, alleging that the individuals collectively cast more than 1,500 ballots over multiple election cycles.
Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd of the Western District of Washington and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Pete Serrano of the Eastern District announced the findings Oct. 26, calling on Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs to set aside ballots associated with the identified individuals until their citizenship status can be verified.
According to the Justice Department’s official announcement, many individuals identified by investigators appear to be lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, who can legally reside in the United States but are not permitted to vote in federal or Washington state elections.
“For years Washington State has had a mantra: our elections are ‘free, fair, and devoid of fraud.’ But our investigation shows not all of that is true – people who are non-citizens are registered to vote and are voting in our state,” Floyd said.
“We have identified over 400 non-citizens who are registered to vote and have voted in multiple elections. This is only the tip of the iceberg. We will continue to investigate and identify those who are committing crimes by voting illegally.”
Federal investigators reportedly compared publicly available voter registration records with immigration information obtained through the Department of Homeland Security.
Floyd said some of the individuals had participated in elections for more than a decade, with certain voters allegedly casting ballots more than two dozen times.
The investigation covered previous state and federal elections, although prosecutors did not provide a complete breakdown of the approximately 1,500 ballots by election year.
Federal officials said their findings were preliminary and that additional suspected cases could emerge as investigators continue examining registration records.
Serrano emphasized that the investigation was intended to protect eligible voters.
“Free and fair elections should be the concern of every United States citizen. Our purpose in sharing this data with the Secretary of State is to protect the sanctity of each citizen’s vote,” Serrano said.
“Our goal in sharing this information with the State of Washington is to ensure that a Washington citizens’ votes are protected in this and future elections.”
The Justice Department also raised concerns about Washington’s automatic voter registration system, commonly known as Motor Voter.
Prosecutors said some green card holders had reported being registered to vote without their knowledge during interactions with state agencies.
According to federal officials, those individuals subsequently received ballots in the mail and may have mistakenly assumed they were eligible to participate.
The department emphasized that receiving a voter registration confirmation or mailed ballot does not establish eligibility for someone who is not a U.S. citizen.
Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections, and Washington requires U.S. citizenship for participation in state elections.
Knowingly submitting false citizenship information during voter registration or voting illegally can result in criminal penalties, including potential immigration consequences for lawful permanent residents.
The Justice Department warned that individuals who knowingly misrepresent their citizenship status may face felony charges carrying penalties of up to five years in federal prison, depending on the offense.
However, the investigation has not yet resulted in criminal charges against the 405 individuals identified in the federal announcement.
Washington election officials have also challenged the accuracy of the federal government’s findings.
Hobbs, a Democrat, said Wednesday that an initial examination of the Justice Department’s list identified American citizens among the individuals accused of voting illegally.
According to The Spokesman-Review, Hobbs sent federal prosecutors a letter disputing their conclusions and requesting individualized evidence before any ballots are withheld.
“Without individualized proof of ineligibility, it would be both irresponsible and illegal for election officials to decline to process a registered voter’s ballot,” Hobbs wrote.
“If you have individualized proof, I invite you to provide it so election officials can take appropriate steps that are consistent with federal and state law.”
Hobbs said the preliminary review found that many individuals on the federal list were U.S. citizens. Others were no longer registered or had inactive voter registrations.
His office had not completed its review or established the precise number of incorrectly identified individuals.
The secretary of state also questioned the timing of the federal announcement, which came approximately one week before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
“If you had valid concerns about voter registrations, the time to raise them was months ago,” Hobbs wrote.
He accused federal officials of failing to provide sufficient supporting documentation and argued that election administrators could not lawfully reject ballots solely on the basis of unverified allegations.
Washington officials have previously reported identifying 15 confirmed cases of noncitizen voting between 1982 and 2025.
That historical figure does not resolve the Justice Department’s new allegations, but it illustrates the substantial disagreement between state and federal authorities over the extent of illegal voting.
The dispute also involves access to Washington’s voter registration database.
Federal prosecutors say the state has restricted access to information needed to verify citizenship, requiring investigators to examine potential violations individually.
Washington officials maintain that they must comply with voter privacy protections and established legal procedures when responding to requests for confidential registration information.
In September, a federal judge ruled against a Justice Department lawsuit seeking access to Washington’s complete voter rolls.
The latest federal request calls on the state to segregate any ballots submitted by individuals on the 405-person list until eligibility can be established.
Washington conducts elections primarily through mail voting, with ballots automatically sent to registered voters.
The federal government has indicated that additional names could be submitted before Election Day.
According to KNKX Public Radio, Floyd said the investigation could lead to criminal prosecutions, although no charges had been announced when prosecutors presented their findings.
The Justice Department has also pursued election-related investigations and litigation in other states, including California, where officials have disputed federal claims about allegedly ineligible voters.
In Washington, the disagreement now centers on whether the 405 individuals identified through federal records were actually noncitizens when they voted and whether sufficient evidence exists to justify withholding their ballots.
Federal prosecutors maintain that their investigation uncovered illegal participation across multiple elections. State officials counter that the list contains confirmed citizens and other inaccuracies requiring further examination.
As of Oct. 29, the alleged 1,500 illegal votes had not been established through criminal convictions or a completed state verification process.
The Justice Department is reviewing Hobbs’ response and considering additional action, while Washington election officials continue preparing for the Nov. 3 general election.
Original article
Comments