Michigan charges five noncitizens with illegal voting in 2024 election

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced criminal charges against five noncitizens for allegedly voting in the November 2024 general election. The charges include fraudulent registration, perjury, and making false statements on absentee ballots. Additionally, a U.S. citizen was charged with attempting to register her noncitizen spouse to vote. These cases are part of a broader state review of 38 suspected incidents of noncitizen voting or related conduct occurring between 2009 and 2025.

The legal actions have intensified the national debate over election security. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrats, arguing that such instances undermine public confidence in the electoral system. Conversely, the American Immigration Council and other advocates argue that noncitizen voting is statistically negligible. They point to Heritage Foundation data showing fewer than 100 noncitizens have been convicted of illegal voting since 1982, challenging claims of a widespread voting crisis.