A noncitizen in Alabama allegedly voted in multiple elections by simply presenting his driver’s license—exposing a stunning gap in election security that allowed illegal votes to be cast without any real citizenship verification.
Story Snapshot
- Alabama Secretary of State identified 186 noncitizens on voter rolls, 25 of whom cast illegal ballots
- Noncitizen registered and voted using only state driver’s license, which does not verify citizenship
- All 25 illegal voters referred to law enforcement for criminal prosecution
- Federal judge blocked broader voter-roll cleanup effort, drawing criticism from election-integrity advocates
Driver’s License Loophole Exposes Registration Weakness
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen announced in January 2026 that his office identified 186 noncitizens illegally registered to vote after cross-checking state voter rolls with federal Department of Homeland Security immigration databases. Among them, 25 individuals actually cast ballots in Alabama elections. The discovery revealed a critical vulnerability: noncitizens could register and vote by presenting an Alabama driver’s license and signing a citizenship attestation, without any robust verification. The state issues driver’s licenses to lawfully present noncitizens, but the license itself does not certify citizenship status.
Federal Data Access Enables Systematic Audit
Allen’s office gained access to federal immigration records through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with DHS in summer 2024. This unprecedented data-sharing arrangement allowed Alabama to match its approximately 3.7 million registered voters against DHS noncitizen records for the first time. The audit produced concrete numbers showing illegal registrations concentrated in Jefferson County and Madison County, with the latter accounting for 21 of the 186 noncitizens identified. Allen emphasized that while the number represents only about 0.005 percent of registered voters, even one noncitizen voting is unacceptable and undermines election integrity.
Law Enforcement Referrals Target Illegal Voters
All 25 noncitizens who cast ballots have been referred to law enforcement for possible criminal prosecution. Allen stated publicly that only American citizens should vote in Alabama elections and pledged to continue regular, robust voter-file maintenance as long as he holds office. The criminal referrals carry serious consequences: federal law prohibits noncitizen voting, and convictions can result in both criminal penalties and severe immigration consequences, including potential deportation. The case highlights how minimal verification requirements at registration and polling places allowed illegal votes to be counted in official elections.
DOJ Lawsuit Blocks Broader Cleanup Effort
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Alabama over a separate, more aggressive voter-roll purge that Allen launched in August 2024. That effort targeted 3,251 individuals with DHS noncitizen identification numbers and instructed county Boards of Registrars to begin immediate inactivation and removal. U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco issued a preliminary injunction blocking the program, ruling that Allen violated the National Voter Registration Act’s 90-day quiet period before federal elections. The judge noted Allen’s purge list incorrectly included thousands of U.S. citizens alongside actual noncitizens. This federal interference frustrated election-integrity advocates who argue states must maintain accurate voter rolls to prevent fraud.
Noncitizen charged with voting in Alabama: ‘Simply showed them his … driver’s license’. pass the save Act and every media outlet must Publish that fake Citizens voting in Midterms& local elections will be charge as this article indicates. @Foxnews@Newsmax https://t.co/ZzpA0O8yWq
— विशाल पवार (@dianaedwar1) March 7, 2026
Allen’s commitment to continued audits using federal data reflects growing conservative demands for stronger citizenship verification in voter registration. The discovery of 25 illegal votes cast demonstrates that noncitizen voting is not theoretical but an actual problem requiring systematic solutions. Critics of federal intervention argue the DOJ’s lawsuit protects bureaucratic processes over election security, allowing ineligible voters to remain on rolls while states face legal obstacles to cleanup efforts. The driver’s-license registration loophole exposed by these cases underscores the need for federal legislation requiring proof of citizenship, not merely self-attestation, to register to vote in American elections.
Sources:
Federal judge blocks Alabama Sec. of State’s removal of non-citizen voters from 2024 election
