Pennsylvania’s election integrity is under serious examination following revelations from Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt (R). He confirmed that hundreds of non-citizens were found registered to vote, with some even casting ballots. This confirmation follows past issues involving 11,198 voters flagged for eligibility concerns. The persistence of these discrepancies raises questions about how non-citizens were allowed to linger on the voter rolls in a state known for its critical role in elections.
Schmidt’s investigation mirrors issues he unearthed when he served as the former Philadelphia City Commissioner. His findings included a significant glitch within the PennDOT motor-voter system, which inadvertently permitted 168 non-citizens in Philadelphia to register automatically…an occurrence mandated by federal law but poorly executed. In addition to these, 52 more registered through questionable means. These individuals did not merely remain registered; they actively voted…227 times…in various elections.
This particular issue radiates beyond Philadelphia. The actions of state officials in 2018 led to the dispatch of confirmation letters to 11,198 voters flagged as potential non-citizens after comparing driver’s license data with immigration records. While some were removed from the rolls, Pennsylvania officials admit they cannot determine how many non-citizens may still be voting. This oversight is part of a long-running scandal, stretching back to the mid-1990s, indicating that generations of non-citizens have potentially diluted the votes of legitimate American citizens.
Despite these alarming findings, Schmidt seems to advocate for a “balance” between ensuring election security and facilitating voter access. In his discussions with Votebeat and Spotlight PA, he mentioned, “I’ve always heard my whole life, even though I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, about concerns about voter fraud and voting irregularities in Philadelphia elections. So I wanted to be able to sort out fact from fiction.”
This statement suggests a reluctance to fully confront the serious implications of non-citizen voting. Critics argue that such a stance may not suffice in addressing the pressing issue at hand. Reports from outlets like The Gateway Pundit have highlighted the continuous crises within Pennsylvania’s election systems over several years, noting Schmidt’s previous testimony about potentially tens of thousands of non-citizen matches between driver’s licenses and voter registrations. Legal actions carried out by the Public Interest Legal Foundation indicated that over 100,000 potential non-citizen registrations were identified at one point.
Furthermore, while Schmidt’s office has been cautious in disclosing full voter data to the Trump Department of Justice for citizenship verification…citing “privacy” concerns…the DOJ has actively sought access to this information. Notably, they are suing Pennsylvania due to Secretary Schmidt’s resistance to turnover voter data.
The controversies surrounding this issue highlight the importance of maintaining rigorous standards in voter registration. The narrative surrounding non-citizen voting impacts not just the elections in Pennsylvania, where a handful of votes can swing an election, but questions the integrity of the entire voting system. The continued presence of registered illegal voters reinforces the argument that even one illegal vote undermines the electoral process. With instances like an actively registered illegal alien who reportedly voted in the last five presidential elections, the implications are indeed profound.
As the situation develops, the focus sharpens on Secretary Al Schmidt and his office’s actions. The scrutiny surrounding their handling of voter data and registrations represents a call for clarity and accountability in the electoral landscape of Pennsylvania. With the state playing such a pivotal role in national elections, resolving these discrepancies remains crucial for restoring public confidence in the voting process.
"*" indicates required fields
